Bara No Konrei
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| 真夜中に交わした約束 ~ 薔薇の婚礼 ~ (Mayonaka Ni Kawashita Yakusoku ~Bara No Konrei~) | |
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| Directed by | Hiroyuki Muto |
| Starring | Mana Közi Yu~ki Klaha Terumi Nagayoshi |
| Music by | Malice Mizer |
| Distributed by |  GAGA Communicatons, Inc. & KSS. Inc. |
| Release date(s) | March 22, 2002 |
| Country | Japan |
| Language | Japanese and English |
| Official website | |
Bara No Konrei is a movie released by the Japanese visual kei band Malice Mizer during March of 2002. The full title of the film is "薔薇の婚礼 ～真夜中に交わした約束～" (Bara no Konrei ~ Mayonaka ni Kawashita Yakusoku~), which roughly translates into "Bridal of Rose ~A Promise Exchanged at Midnight~". It is a silent movie with a storyline similar to Dracula (and many other vampire-based stories) with Japanese captions (and a poorly translated English subtitle below that) for dialogue. A majority of the movie has music from Malice Mizer’s final album, Bara no Seidou playing in the background. Some of the tracks had been altered slightly to fit the pace of the movie and the scene. Many parts of the story (especially in the beginning) are flashbacks, so this movie for some is difficult to follow.
[edit] Main Character List
- Klaha – Man who goes to Transylvania from England on business. The protagonist. Similar to Jonathan Harker of Dracula.
- Közi – Vampire of the same name.
- Mana - Female vampire and nun who is working for Earl of Dracula.
- Yu~ki – Earl of Dracula, the antagonist of the story.
- Terumi Nagayoshi – Cecil, Klaha’s fiancée. Similar to Mina Murray of Dracula.
[edit] Synopsis
Klaha and Cecil are set to get married. However, their wedding must be postponed because Klaha is summoned from England to Transylvania on business. Klaha goes to Transylvania, and arrives at the Earl of Dracula's castle, where he is staying. The Earl seems welcoming, but Klaha has strange experiences while staying there.
Meanwhile, back in London, Cecil starts having dreams about the Earl of Dracula. She confesses those dreams to a nun, who tells her to pray about it. One night, the female vampire visits her. Közi also visits, and attempts to drink from her. The female vampire stops him, telling him that she is the Earl's virgin bride.
Klaha finally returns to England. Upon his return, he discovers that Cecil is ill. He visits her, to see her tied to the bed with a crucifix on her chest. Her parents and a priest are standing over her bed, the priest seeming to be exorcising her. Suddenly, the Earl of Dracula appears. The priest attempts to stop him, but Dracula kills the priest and sets Cecil free. It is clear that Cecil is now a vampire. Everybody disappears from the room, and Klaha is the only one left. Közi then appears in the room. Klaha is frightened at first, but Közi assures him that he will not harm him. Közi tells Klaha he must kill Dracula.
Klaha travels to the Earl's castle, and finds the Earl, Cecil and the female vampire together. Közi also comes, and he and the Earl start fighting. Közi is defeated, but not before greatly harming the female vampire and the Earl. Közi asks Klaha to kill him, and he does. Klaha then goes to Cecil. At first, she seems to have recovered. However, her eyes turn red and she bares her fangs at him, proving she is still a vampire. The female vampire tells Klaha to kill Cecil. Klaha attempts to, but he cannot bring himself to kill his love. Klaha allows Cecil to kiss him, and the scene ends.
In the final scene, Klaha suddenly sits up. He has changed greatly. His face has become pale and drawn, and his lips are black. He seems to have become a vampire. Cecil sits up beside him and smiles. The film ends with Klaha walking down the aisle, carrying Cecil in his arms.
