Dracula - The Tales Beyond (2005) - The first documentary ever to present the real life and deeds of Vlad Basarab the 3rd and how his tale gave birth to Count Dracula .

Count Dracula is one of the most famous characters whose existence is still a controversy due to the web of reality and fiction surrounding him .

His name is forever associated to Romania and especially with its North-Western region – Transylvania , where the infamous Prince Vlad Basarab the 3 rd was born. Because his favorite form of punishment was impaling, he history records him as Vlad The Impaler; also as Dracula, as this is the name he used to sign documents.

But his name was made famous by the Irish writer Bram Stoker, who produced the tale of the most illustrious vampire of all times – Count Dracula. His success was based on the mixture of fantasy with real data about a place almost unknown, surrounded in mystery, cradle of strange tales about fantastic creatures who live forever feeding with fresh human blood.

It is absolutely true that long time ago there was a real person called Dracula. And that he was so cruel with his enemies that he was said to be thirsty for human blood. Also, that a century later after his death, bodies of young beautiful maidens were found abandoned in the fields, or in the cemeteries, baring the marks of cruel tortures and with all the blood drained out of their veins.

This documentary, shot entirely in Transylvania, begins its exploration with the most common tales encountered in the Romanian folklore and their meaning in the popular culture and helps us understand how in fact, Stoker's vampire is a practically a combination of two distinct terms in the Romanian beliefs: the undeads and the werewolves. The word “vampire” itself was absent from the old Romanian and it begun its existence long after Stoker made it popular!

The real life of Prince Dracula, another strange combination of tragic events, treasons, mass executions, extreme bravery and military success led to a series of printed records of his deeds, whose birth is explained in the second part, beginning with the origin of his infamous name.

But there is still something missing, and the third part of this film presents the key element for the vampire behavior: the luring of young girls and their murder for the vampires' mostly treasured fresh blood. The real tale of the Hungarian Countess Elisabeth Bathory, tried in 1610 and found guilty for murder of more than 600 young maidens helps understanding how Prince Dracula of Vallachia became Count Dracula of Transylvania .

Original title : Dracula - The Tales Beyond Category : Historical documentary Duration : 30 minutes. Written, produced and directed by : Walter Ghidibaca Original music composed by : Radu Bordeianu Presented by: Walter Ghidibaca Narrated by : Richard Proctor Actors : Marius Bodochi, Adrian Pintea, Andra Negulescu, Ioan Balaceanu, Diana Gordan, Roxana Cadis, Valentin Baci, Mihai Bucsa, Alina Stoian, Alina Pahoncia, Mihaela Culda, Malina Mandru, Mara Negrea, Tanu Bartos Distributed by Touchwood Film Productions, Montreal , Canada