By the way, the bubonic plague, though it really got traction in medieval Europe, if you read history, and this is well documented, began with infested rats in China and just like Wuhan, came knocking elsewhere. Of course now we have one that has infected more people then any plague in history and some
genuinely reputable people (I work in health care) think that the 4 million death toll could be as much as 12 times higher as I type on May 18, But NO plague in history has destroyed an entire world economy before....... Genghis Kahn has returned.
But back to the business at hand.....
The Buboes that make their appearance in this pretty remarkable movie, are really subthematic. It is the strange personal and sexual and intrigues of court, not traffic court, that are at the center. In that sense we have a sort of recreation of The Name of the Rose, remember that one?
This is a detective story set in medieval times. The performances are excellent. It has a slow general pacing but there is a lot to uncover. The film maintains a sense of imminence throughout, you know you are being led somewhere, and you are, and I am not going to 'spoil' on that count.
Part of what I enjoyed here, beyond the passionate dignity the actors invest, they are really into this, and it often feels like a stage play, something Shakespearean, is the deepening mystery as things appear to solidify.
It is intelligent, extremely well acted, peopled with very memorable characters and an intriguing plot. It will require your attention but what's going on pretty well demands and compels that.
It is a long ride, yes, but the scenery is worth looking at, and you are literally with (a) good company.
Not everyone's cup of tea, this is not AVATAR........a lot of it is grim and muddy and gross, and it is an actorly exercise all the way, It is unique and i can't decide if it's just an above average medieval/horror/drama/passion play/ mystical/sexual/theological/brutal thing, or something that's verging on terrific with all the above modifiers.
I thing it just misses a bullseye so I'll give it a 9 but what it is missing may be intentional, because when all is said and done and more or less laid out for you, there can be questions of interpretation.
No question though that I recommend it.
But back to the business at hand.....
The Buboes that make their appearance in this pretty remarkable movie, are really subthematic. It is the strange personal and sexual and intrigues of court, not traffic court, that are at the center. In that sense we have a sort of recreation of The Name of the Rose, remember that one?
This is a detective story set in medieval times. The performances are excellent. It has a slow general pacing but there is a lot to uncover. The film maintains a sense of imminence throughout, you know you are being led somewhere, and you are, and I am not going to 'spoil' on that count.
Part of what I enjoyed here, beyond the passionate dignity the actors invest, they are really into this, and it often feels like a stage play, something Shakespearean, is the deepening mystery as things appear to solidify.
It is intelligent, extremely well acted, peopled with very memorable characters and an intriguing plot. It will require your attention but what's going on pretty well demands and compels that.
It is a long ride, yes, but the scenery is worth looking at, and you are literally with (a) good company.
Not everyone's cup of tea, this is not AVATAR........a lot of it is grim and muddy and gross, and it is an actorly exercise all the way, It is unique and i can't decide if it's just an above average medieval/horror/drama/passion play/ mystical/sexual/theological/brutal thing, or something that's verging on terrific with all the above modifiers.
I thing it just misses a bullseye so I'll give it a 9 but what it is missing may be intentional, because when all is said and done and more or less laid out for you, there can be questions of interpretation.
No question though that I recommend it.