Nostradamus (film)

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Movie
German title Nostradamus
Original title Nostradamus
Country of production Great Britain , Germany
original language English
Publishing year 1994
length DVD: 118 minutes
Blu-ray Disc: 132 minutes
Age rating FSK 12
Rod
Director Roger Christian
script Roger Christian
Piers Ashworth
Knut Boeser
production Edward Simons
Harald Reichebner
music Barrington Pheloung
camera Denis Crossan
cut Alan Strachan
occupation

Nostradamus is a British - German film adaptation from 1994 about the life of the French pharmacist, doctor and astrologer Nostradamus based on a book by Piers Ashworth . Directed by Roger Christian , the title character is played by Tchéky Karyo .

The story takes place during the 16th century in France, the heyday of the Inquisition and the plague. The film shows in chronological order the life and work of Michel de Nostredame alias Nostradamus (1503–1566), who appeared as a doctor, pharmacist and visionary. Due to his provocative prophecies and alternative healing and treatment methods, he repeatedly came into conflict with the Church and thus the Inquisition. His survival was probably due to a few powerful patrons, among others. a. Catherine de Medici.

action

The film Nostradamus shows the most important events in Nostradamus ' life in chronological order ; especially his career as a healer, seer and scientist. The area of ​​tension between church, science and politics in France in the 16th century is shown.

The film starts with a nightmarish vision of the end of the world by the boy Michel de Nostredame and a brief glimpse into the environment of the respected family of converted doctors and traders of Jewish origin. The main areas of conflict in his life immediately burst over the boy with traumatic brutality when he helplessly watches as Sophie, a clever healing maid of the family, is burned by the inquisitors of the Inquisition .

The conflicts continue in Michel de Nostredame's medical studies as a struggle between more modern scientific methods as opposed to power-based dogmatics , especially in dealing with the plague .

The medical teacher and fatherly friend Dr. Scalinger recognizes Michel's true talent in the visions and gives him access to forbidden literature and esoteric means in order to perfect and interpret this gift. On the other hand, de Nostredame is robbed of his first family by the Inquisition when he finds a forbidden script on his wife.

The unimaginable horror that will subsequently be revealed to him for the centuries to come drives him, in addition to his struggle for human medicine and walking the tightrope against envious doctors and ecclesiastical enemies, to write down his prophecies in coded form as a warning for future generations.

A concrete vision of the death of the French King Henry II enables Nostradamus to enter politics, almost costs him his life, but ultimately gives him the protection of the royal widow Katherina von Medici until the end of his life.

background

Nostradamus - Prophecies of Terror was filmed from May to July 1993 mainly in Romania, as well as in London film studios. The film is a co-production between Germany, Great Britain and Romania and had a budget of just under 20,000,000 dollars. It opened in German cinemas on August 18, 1994, but was not very successful from a financial point of view and only reached 263,000 viewers.

Locations

  • Saint-Rémy-de-Provence: This is where Nostradamus spent his childhood (early 16th century).
  • Montpellier : the city where Nostradamus studies medicine and astrology and for the first time attracts attention with his extraordinary healing skills against the plague.
  • Stay and study with Doctor Scalinger: The exact location is not mentioned in the film, it is probably about Agen , several years stay there.
  • Arles : Nostradamus is called to Arles to help fight the plague.
  • Salon-de-Provence : the city where his brother was mayor. Stay of several years.
  • Stay at the court of King Heinrich II.

Reviews

kino.de wrote: “The visions of Nostradamus have fascinated mankind for 400 years. The George Lucas companion Roger Christian filmed the life of the legendary seer with a star cast and great effort. Tcheky Karyo, Rutger Hauer and Amanda Plummer play the main roles in the German-English $ 20 million production. "

At cinema.de was criticized: “The former outfitter Roger Christian brings together opulent optics and big names. Unfortunately he lost sight of the gripping dramaturgy. ”Conclusion:“ Powerful images, but poorly dramatic. ”

The critics of schnittberichte.com judged: “The film belongs to a rather manageable number of films that realistically capture life in the Middle Ages, namely dark, dirty and brutal, as a daily struggle for survival.” It “is worn by Tchéky Karyo in one of his few main roles, he succeeds in portraying the inner turmoil and the self-doubts that accompany the light and shadow of his gift. But Rutger Hauer's portrayal of the mystical monk is even more grandiose. ”“ The film scores with very good, visually stunning scenes and great hand-made effects, and for a film approved for ages 12 and up it also has brutal, possibly even disturbing depictions. ”

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Nostradamus at schnittberichte.com , accessed on February 23, 2020.
  2. ↑ Film review at kino.de , accessed on February 23, 2020.
  3. ↑ Review at cinema.de , accessed on February 23, 2020.