Nostradamus (1994)

Recounts the life and loves of the physician, astrologer, and famed prognosticator; his encounters with medieval science and the Inquisition; and his early struggles with his visions of the... See full summary »

Director:

Roger Christian

Writers:

Piers Ashworth (story), Roger Christian (story),

Stars:

Tchéky Karyo, F. Murray Abraham, Rutger Hauer

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tchéky Karyo	...	Nostradamus
F. Murray Abraham	...	Scalinger
Rutger Hauer	...	The Mystic Monk
Amanda Plummer	...	Catherine De Medici
Julia Ormond	...	Marie
Assumpta Serna	...	Anne
Anthony Higgins	...	King Henry II
Diana Quick	...	Diane de Portier
Michael Gough	...	Jean de Remy
Maia Morgenstern	...	Helen (as Maja Morgenstern)
Magdalena Ritter	...	Sophie
Bruce Myers	...	Professor
Leon Lissek	...	Inquisitor
Michael Byrne	...	Inquisitor
Bruce Alexander	...	Paul

Storyline

Recounts the life and loves of the physician, astrologer, and famed prognosticator; his encounters with medieval science and the Inquisition; and his early struggles with his visions of the future. The film is set in France in the 16th century during one of the periodic plague outbreaks (as opposed to the Black Death [mid-14th-century Europe] or the Black Plague [mid-17th-century London]). The film depicts Nostradamus's rise in influence, because of both his success in treating plague and his predictions, culminating in his appointment as court physician to Charles IX of France.

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Plot Keywords:

nostradamus | historical event | apocalypse | 1500s | prophecy | 

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Taglines:

Never before has one man seen so much of the future. Your future

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexuality and some images of violence

Details

Country:

France UK Germany Romania

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 September 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

Nostradamos: I aionia profiteia

Filming Locations:

Ealing Studios, Ealing, London, England, UK

Box Office

Gross:

$364,164 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Allied Entertainments Group PLC, Filmex, Nostradamus Enterprises Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

119 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

Nostradamus draws a swastika on the wall, which supposedly nobody has seen before. However, the swastika (or its reverse) was not new since the Nazis misappropriated an ancient good luck symbol.

User Reviews

Lush, "free-love" look at humankind during the Renaissance.

This is a good movie if you're trying to understand the state of humankind during the Renaissance. It has that lush, quirky, almost "free-love" kind of feeling to it, not to mention an interesting take on the story of Nostradamus.

Tcheky Karyo is great but his acting ability has not really been taken advantage of by the filmmakers. I saw him in The Bear and Luc Besson's Nikita and he was fabulous. In this movie, he sort of wanders around in the nightmare of his prophetic visions and occassionally marries a beautiful woman.

Rutger Hauer has a very neat, if short, appearance in the film. Sort of a pyromaniac monk? I couldn't tell-- I think it was an attempt to be "artistic" in a film that's really "showcase."

Oh well. Like I said, Nostradamus really demonstrates well that exciting and dangerous atmosphere of the Renaissance. Watch it for this if nothing else.