The Baby of Mâcon (1993)

Director:

Peter Greenaway

Writer:

Peter Greenaway (writer)

Release Date:

17 September 1993 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | History

Plot:

A movie about the corruption in all levels of society. A baby is born from a supposed-to-be virgin woman...

Plot Keywords:

Baby | Nudity | Surrealism | Hypocrisy | Servant

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Julia Ormond	...	The Daughter
Ralph Fiennes	...	The Bishop's Son
Philip Stone	...	The Bishop
Jonathan Lacey	...	Cosimo Medici
Don Henderson	...	The Father Confessor
Celia Gregory	...	Mother Superior
Jeff Nuttall	...	The Majordomo
Jessica Hynes	...	The First Midwife (as Jessica Stevenson)
Kathryn Hunter	...	The Second Midwife
Gabrielle Reidy	...	The Third Midwife
Frank Egerton	...	The Prompter
Phelim McDermott	...	The First Tutor
Tony Vogel	...	The Father
Tatiana Strauss	...	The First Nun
Louisa Millwood-Haigh	...	The Second Nun

Also Known As:

Das Wunder von Macon (Germany)

Runtime:

122 min

Country:

UK | France | Germany | Belgium | Netherlands

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Finland:K-16 (cut) (1996) | Finland:K-18 (uncut) (1993) | Australia:R | France:-16 | New Zealand:R18 | Portugal:M/18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Germany

Company:

Black Forest Films

Trivia:

The last cinema film of Philip Stone.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Tulse Luper Suitcases, Part 2: Vaux to the Sea (2004)

Soundtrack:

L'Orfeo

What is ultimately a Stage Epic....

I'm surprised at the common interpretations of this film, and I agree it is incredibly gratuitous in it's manner, but it also reflects that of a modern crisis. Greenaway based this film on his witnessing of the virtual exploitation of youth in mass commercialism, from television to that of city billboards.

The story revolves around an infant who is exploited by a young woman, ultimately for attention, by claiming the child as being holy and that God speaks through him (the voice being that of a man plainly seen, hidden up near the rafters. Quite brilliant production settings I think). What begins as a sudden rise to fame for her soon starts to unravel leading to an eventual murder, and her quick descent into hell (as explained by the other reviewers).

The production values are simply superb in it's theatre settings with either minimalist action and wonderful dialogue, or a stage filled with constant movement and flair, (and wonderful dialogue). The subdued, yet bright colour's throughout, and morbid setting's reflect perfectly that of an intoxicating period of history, and really makes one glad that they dont exist in this corrupted, horrific environment. As said elsewhere, you can almost smell the stench.

The acting is absolutely brilliant, from Ormond as the child's disturbed mentor to her eventual lover "The Bishop's Son" Fiennes. I truly can't understand how one of the reviewers would consider this to be a low point for Fiennes, as, if I were in his position, I would be truly proud of the performance given and the content of this wonderful film. It's morbid, but gives much at the same time to the imagination.

It's a shocking film nearly all the way through but I think that's just one of the factors that contributes to it's success and it's portrayal of a truly bloody and socially immoral period of time and context (especially for the classic theatre settings) Any other way would have detracted from the subject. The ending has never left my mind. I love this film.

10/10.