The Gaul (2001) Vercingétorix (original title)

Director:

Jacques Dorfmann

Writers:

Anne de Leseleuc (story)
Jacques Dorfmann (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

24 January 2001 (France)

Genre:

Adventure | Biography | Drama | History | War

Tagline:

His people made him a leader. The empire made him a renegade. History made him a hero.

Plot:

An entire nation's destiny lies in the hands of one man.

Plot Keywords:

Gaul | Empire | Warrior | Destiny | Julius Caesar

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Christopher Lambert	...	Vercingétorix (as Christophe Lambert)
Klaus Maria Brandauer	...	Julius Caesar
Max von Sydow	...	Guttuart
Inés Sastre	...	Epona
Denis Charvet	...	Cassivelaun
Bernard-Pierre Donnadieu	...	Dumnorix
Maria Kavardjikova	...	Rhia
Yannis Baraban	...	Litavic
Vincent Moscato	...	Moscatos
Jean-Pierre Rives	...	Teuton Chief
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Youri Angelov
Atanass Atanassov
Jean Pierre Bergeron	...	Diviciac (as J.P. Berger)
Patrice Bissonnette
Stefan Danailov
Paraskeva Djukelova
Valentin Ganev
Maxim Gentchev		(as Maxime Guentchev)
Plamena Getova		(as Plamena Guetova)
Assen Kukushev		(as Assen Koukouchev)
Boris Lukanov
Mila Lutzkanova
Tzvetana Maneva
Vassil Mihajlov
André Mélançon
Pepa Nikolova
Aubert Pallascio
Djoko Rosic		(as Jocko Rossitch)
Plamen Serakov		(as Plamen Sirakov)
Iossif Surchadzhiev		(as Yossiv Sartchadijev)
Roussi Tchanev
Georges Tcherkelov
Desislava Tenekedjieva
Marin Yanev

Directed by
Jacques Dorfmann

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Anne de Leseleuc		story
Jacques Dorfmann		screenplay
Jacques Dorfmann		story
Rospo Pallenberg		screenplay
Norman Spinrad		screenplay

Produced by
Denis Charvet	....	assistant producer
Jacques Dorfmann	....	producer
Claude Léger	....	associate producer
Rodolphe Polin-Michaut	....	line producer
Patrick Sandrin	....	associate producer
Patrick Sandrin	....	executive producer: Patrick Sandrin Sofilm Bulgaria

Original Music by
Pierre Charvet

Cinematography by
Stefan Ivanov
Plamen Somov

Film Editing by
Marie Castro-Vasquez		(as Marie Castro)

Production Design by
Didier Naert

Art Direction by
Anastas Yanakyev

Set Decoration by
Didier Naert

Costume Design by
Edith Vesperini

Makeup Department
Sano De Perpessac	....	key hair stylist
Didier Lavergne	....	key makeup artist
Krassimir Mihaylov	....	assistant makeup artist (as Krassi Mihaylov)
Paula Parra	....	makeup artist
Mariana Zaharieva	....	assistant hair stylist

Production Management
Laetitia Andren	....	assistant production manager (as Laetitia Martinoni)
Lyubomir Anev	....	assistant unit manager (as Lubo Anev)
Eva Bakardjieva	....	assistant unit manager
Tomas Chivatchev	....	assistant unit manager
Gueorgui Chopov	....	assistant unit manager
Assen Dremdjiev	....	assistant unit manager
Mila Gueorguieva	....	assistant unit manager
Ginette Guillard	....	production manager: Canada
George Jardon	....	post-production supervisor
Arnaud Kerneguez	....	production manager
Ludmila Kirilova	....	unit manager: second unit
Rousy Lyutskanov	....	production manager (as Roussi Lutskanov)
Aleksandr Marinov	....	assistant unit manager (as Alexandre Marinov)
Nikolai Momtchilov	....	assistant unit manager
Philippe Philipov	....	unit manager
Vasil Radoev	....	assistant unit manager
Petya Stamenkova	....	assistant unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Victor Bojinov	....	first assistant director
Gilles Cannatella	....	first assistant director
Aglika Delahaye	....	trainee assistant director: second unit
Karine Dinev	....	second assistant director: second unit
Ivelina Festchieva	....	assistant director
Krasimir Hazarbasanov	....	first assistant director: second unit
Christo Jivkov	....	assistant director
Pierre Magny	....	second unit director
Ilka Valcheva	....	assistant director
Alexander Kossev	....	second second assistant director: second unit (uncredited)

Art Department
Krasimir Andreev	....	art assistant
Venelin Andréev	....	art assistant
Bertrand Clercq-Roques	....	first assistant art director (as Bertrand Clerq-Roques)
Michel Conche	....	property master
Vessela Ivanova	....	art assistant
Robert Le Corre	....	set propman
Yossif Mladenov	....	set designer
Iren Muratova	....	art assistant
Christo Petrov	....	assistant property master
Prolet Gueorguieva Polia	....	property master
Nikolay Popov	....	props (as Nikolai Popov)
Borislav Radovanov	....	construction manager
Ivan Ranghelov	....	set dresser
Ilian Siméonov	....	art assistant
Georgi Todorov	....	art assistant (as Guéorgui Todorov)
Petko Todorov	....	assistant property master
Ventzislav Ulov	....	assistant property master
Ivan Zlatev	....	assistant property master
Atanas Cherkezov	....	props (uncredited)
Octavio Tapia	....	on-set propman (uncredited)

Sound Department
Pierre-Jules Audet	....	dialogue editor
Diane Boucher	....	post-synchronization supervisor
Martine Collin	....	assistant foley artist: Canada
Michel Descombes	....	sound re-recording mixer
Philippe Espantoso	....	dialogue mixer
Maxime Ferland	....	boom operator
Julian Fischer	....	sound re-recording mixer
Nicolas Gagnon	....	assistant foley artist: Canada
Shaun-Nicholas Gallagher	....	recording engineer: Canada
Claude Hazanavicius	....	sound recordist
Philippe Heissler	....	sound editor: France
Réjean Juteau	....	dialogue mixer
Pierre Laroche	....	assistant sound re-recording mixer
Nicolas Leroy	....	assistant sound editor: France
Vincent McKeown	....	assistant foley artist: Canada
Tchae Measroch	....	foley artist
Mireille Morin	....	adr editor: Canada
Nathalie Morin	....	recording engineer: Canada
Pierre Paquet	....	dialogue mixer
Hubert Persat	....	assistant sound editor: France
Jacques Plante	....	adr supervisor
Lucie Remington	....	assistant foley artist: Canada
Bruno Ruffolo	....	adr recordist: Canada
Stan Sakellaropoulos	....	assistant dialogue editor
Georgi Vladichki	....	sound recordist: second unit
Monique Vézina	....	foley artist: Canada
Hayden Whiting	....	assistant adr editor
Petar Yosifov	....	sound technician: second unit
James Ziegler	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby

Special Effects by
Pasquale Catalano	....	special effects
Massimo Ciaraglia	....	special effects technician
Edmondo Natali	....	special effects coordinator
Germano Natali	....	special effects foreman
Fabio Traversari	....	special effects supervisor

Visual Effects by
Stéphanie Betton	....	digital compositor
Daniel Buthiaux	....	digital compositor
Pascal Charpentier	....	visual effects supervisor
Stéphanie Dargent	....	matte painter
Djibrill Kane	....	scan and shoot
Patricia Medjahed	....	digital compositor
Julien Pacaud	....	digital compositor
Laetitia Young	....	digital compositor
Paul Swendsen	....	visual effects supervisor (uncredited)

Stunts
Dian Hristov	....	stunts
George Karlukovski	....	stunts
Dimitar Kehayov	....	stunt coordinator: horses
Todor Lazarov	....	stunts
Velizar Peev	....	stunts
Svetoslav Rangelov	....	stunts
Krasimir Simeonov	....	stunts
Stanimir Stamatov	....	stunts
Raicho Vasilev	....	stunts
Kaloian Vodenicharov	....	assistant stunt coordinator
Yordan Zahariev	....	stunts
David Zamperla	....	stunt double
Mirko Zamperla	....	assistant stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Petar Anev	....	grip
Martin Balkanski	....	assistant camera
Yordan Bankov	....	electrician: second unit
Claire Berthe	....	assistant Steadicam operator: second unit
Martin Chichov	....	video tape operator
Victor Chichov	....	camera operator
François Daignault	....	Steadicam operator: second unit
Roberto De Angelis	....	Steadicam operator
Desislav Dimitrov	....	grip
Robi Grikov	....	assistant electrician
Penko Ivanov	....	grip
Ilio Kotorenchev	....	video assist operator
Borislav Krastanov	....	assistant electrician
Clermont Lapointe	....	key grip: second unit
John Lewin	....	chief lighting technician: second unit
Zheko Manev	....	assistant camera (as Jeko Manev)
Nicolas Martin	....	assistant camera
Milena Mihaylova	....	Steadicam assistant
Tchavdar Minev	....	grip
Anton Nakov	....	first assistant camera
Dimitar Nikolov	....	key grip
Emil Penev	....	assistant camera
Valentin Popov	....	gaffer
Konstantin Poprov	....	assistant electrician
Kossio Poprov	....	assistant electrician
Anton Rankov	....	video assist operator
Jocelyn Simard	....	assistant camera: second unit
Allen Smith	....	director of photography: second unit
Plamen Soklev	....	assistant electrician
Plamen Somov	....	camera operator
Miroslav Stoilov	....	second assistant camera
Emile Stoitchev	....	grip
Plamen Vassiliev	....	assistant electrician
Stefan Yanev	....	assistant electrician
Vassil Yontchev	....	grip
Aleksandr Zlatev	....	assistant camera

Casting Department
Victor Bojinov	....	casting: Bulgaria
Ginette D'Amico	....	casting: Canada

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Denitsa Boyadjieva	....	wardrobe assistant
Elena Ivanova	....	wardrobe assistant
Irena Maximova Kirkova	....	costumer
Marta Mironska	....	wardrobe assistant
Renata Votrubová	....	dresser

Editorial Department
Marie Castro-Vasquez	....	image editor
Jean-Baptiste de Lescure	....	assistant editor
Magali Debrabandére	....	assistant editor
Aure Gourmanel	....	assistant editor
Myriam Hoss-Desmarais	....	post-production coordinator: Canada
Grégoire Lordereau	....	assistant editor
Christian Rever	....	color timer

Music Department
Steve Forward	....	music recordist
Marie-Jeanne Serero	....	orchestrator

Other crew
Marie Beaulieu	....	continuity supervisor
Catherine Brelet	....	assistant: Max Von Sydow
Julia Chew	....	assistant: Claude Leger
Karine Dinev	....	production assistant
Nina Kirova	....	script supervisor
Micheline Lajoie	....	production accountant: Canada
Eric Michel	....	production assistant (as Éric Michel)
Céline Oudin	....	production assistant
Manon Proulx	....	production accountant: Canada
Sylvain Proulx	....	production administrator: Canada
Françoise Tessier	....	continuity supervisor
Cedric Brelet von Sydow	....	video documentary
Nazzareno Zamperla	....	sword master

Production Companies

• Centre National de la Cinématographie (CNC)
• Eiffel Productions
• La Mutualité Française
• M6 Films
• SMK Limited
• TF1 International
• Transfilm
• Téléfilm Canada

Distributors

• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (2001) (Argentina) (all media)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video
• Europa Filmes (Brazil) (DVD)
• Europa Filmes (Brazil) (VHS)
• LK-TEL (2001) (Argentina) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (2001) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Lolistar (France)
• Sony Pictures Video
• Splendid Film (2002) (Germany) (DVD)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (Spain)

Special Effects

• Germano Natali

Other Companies

• Cinécool  titles and opticals
• Covitec  re-recording studio
• Studio Concept  adr recording studio
• TSF  electrical equipment

Also Known As:

"Vercingétorix" - France (original title)
"Druids" - Canada (English title), USA (imdb display title)
"Great Warriors" - Japan (English title) (video title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and nudity

Runtime:

Argentina:124 min | France:120 min | Japan:114 min | Spain:118 min

Country:

France | Canada | Belgium

Language:

French | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:16 | France:U | Germany:12 | Netherlands:16 | Spain:7 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12 | USA:R | Iceland:12 | Malaysia:18SG (uncut version) | Malaysia:U (cut version) | Portugal:M/12

Filming Locations:

Bulgaria

Company:

Centre National de la Cinématographie (CNC)

Trivia:

Filmed both in English and French language

Goofs:

Factual errors: Gauls were not known to wear horns on their helmets.

Quotes:

Julius Ceasar:I will make you a king, appointed by Rome.
Vercingetorix:Why not a king appointed by destiny?

Soundtrack:

Le rêve d'un homme

I can't believe it's a real movie

"Vercingétorix" is the worst movie I have ever seen. It's a catastrophe beyond your imagination. Christophe Lambert is ridiculous as young Vercingetorix, and as old Vercingetorix too. The dialogues are so bad even I could have done better. The costumes look like rags. The fights are boring. Some scenes are so inconsistent it's funny... Example: imagine you've been living in a forest all of your life, without seeing the world. OK. Now, you're going out of the forest (obviously not a very thick one), and what can you see? A "via romana", a roman highway. Yes. Just a couple of trees from your cave. And who's riding on it, with a couple of bodyguards and one extra-horse? Julius Caesar himself and its fierce army. And the emperor just gives you a horse, because he has an extra one. And this explains why, some time later in the movie, Christophe Lambert says, giving a horse back to a roman soldier: "I give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar."

I'd say the following things to people who have the opportunity to see "Druids" (by the way, what druids? Those white-clad weirdos jumping around with a sword?): If you are a cinema student, you might want to see this movie just to get what you should never do. If you are interested in bad movie experiments, don't miss it either (it's a cult movie for many people for that very reason). If you're just a normal person, don't lose 3 hours of your life. The first hour is very funny but the 2 following ones are long.