The Mill and the Cross (2011)

Director:

Lech Majewski

Writers:

Michael Francis Gibson (screenplay), Lech Majewski (screenplay)

Stars:

Rutger Hauer, Michael York, Charlotte Rampling

7 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rutger Hauer	...	Pieter Bruegel
Michael York	...	Nicolaes Jonghelinck
Charlotte Rampling	...	Mary
Joanna Litwin	...	Marijken Bruegel
Dorota Lis	...	Saskia Jonghelinck
Bartosz Capowicz	...	Crucified
Mateusz Machnik	...	Wheelfied
Marian Makula	...	Miller
Sylwia Szczerba	...	Netje
Wojciech Mierkulow	...	Jan
Ruta Kubas	...	Esther
Jan Wartak	...	Simon
Sebastian Cichonski	...	Peddler
Lucjan Czerny	...	Bram
Aneta Kiszczak	...	Mayken

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

charcoal drawing | hand drawing | painter as artist | whipping | religious symbolism | 

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Taglines:

Behind every great painting lies an even greater story

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Genres:

Drama | History

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [jp]

Country:

Poland Sweden

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

18 March 2011 (Poland)

Also Known As:

El molino y la cruz

Filming Locations:

Kunsthistoriches Museum, Vienna, Austria

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$11,354 (USA) (16 September 2011)

Gross:

$310,900 (USA) (3 February 2012)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Telewizja Polska (TVP), Bokomotiv Freddy Olsson Filmproduktion, Odeon

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

A few minutes before the end of the movie, a red automobile crosses the background between two houses, while Bruegel and Nicholas Jonghelinck are speaking in the foreground.

User Reviews

a phenomenal reconstruction

In his brilliant short comment on Pieter Brueghel, the elder, Aldous Huxley states that Brueghel's vision on mankind is still highly topical. His paintings are allegories and show him as 'a man profoundly convinced of the reality of evil and of the horrors which this mortal life, not to mention eternity, hold in store for suffering humanity. The world is a horrible place; but in spite of this, or precisely because of this, men and women eat, drink and dance.'

Pieter Brueghel's 'Way to Calvary' transcends its theme. It is a profoundly bitter condemnation of the occupation of Flanders by the Spanish Catholic king. The Flemings are crucified or broken on the wheel, while their possessions are confiscated and their families destroyed.

Lech Majewski transformed masterfully Brueghel's masterpiece into an impressive movie. The reconstruction of the idyllic landscapes, of the colorful atmosphere of the 16th century cities, of the epochal clothing and of the cold-blooded reign and the executions by the Spanish mercenaries are simply phenomenal, helped most significantly by a brilliant cast and a fantastic color grading. Lech Majewski's impressive scenes, ranging from simple serene family joys to compulsive sadistic flogging, speak for themselves, while keen commentators, like Breughel himself, critic harshly the savagery of the representatives of the Catholic king.

A must see.