The Mill and the Cross (2011)

Director:

Lech Majewski

Writers:

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

Release Date:

18 March 2011 (Poland)

Genre:

Drama | History

Tagline:

Behind every great painting lies an even greater story

Plot Keywords:

Charcoal Drawing | Hand Drawing | Painter As Artist | Whipping | Religious Symbolism

Awards:

7 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

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
Oskar Huliczka	...	Horn Player
Adam Kwiatkowski	...	Traitor
Pawel Kramarz	...	Pedro De Erazu
Tadeusz Kwak	...	Rogier De Marke
Andrzej Jastrzab	...	Scharmouille
Józef Barczyk	...	Thief
Bernadetta Cichon	...	Miller's Wife
Krzysztof Lelito	...	Millhand
Jerzy Suchecki	...	Pitje
Emilia Czartoryska	...	Beta
Agata Kokosinska	...	Wero
Tatiana Juszniewska	...	Magdali
Dariusz Lorek	...	Josef
Miroslaw Fuchs	...	Smith
Stanislaw Futek	...	Waggoner
Grzegorz Kazibudzki	...	Archer
Roman Galbas	...	Monk
Pawel Lecki	...	Monk
Stanislaw Wierzbowski	...	Monk
Grezgorz Gamojda	...	Monk
Anna Jedrzejewska	...	Nun
Aleksandra Horzela	...	Nun
Agnieszka Kozakiewicz	...	Nun
Katarzyna Sobanska-Strzalkowska	...	Heretic (as Katarzyna Sobanska)
Wieslaw Szczesniak	...	Heretic
Jan Walkowiak	...	Hangman
Stefan Subik	...	Hangman
Adam Majkut	...	Hangman
Piotr Leskow	...	Hangman
Ryszard Borys	...	Hangman
Katarzyna Nosalik	...	Maid
Karina Slabosz	...	Maid
Milena Figura	...	Maid
Kinga Rojek	...	Maid
Marta Mamon	...	Maid
Anna Jedrzyna	...	Maid
Krzysztof Drwal	...	Maid
Marcin Twardowski	...	Maid
Luiza Skrzek	...	Maid
Karina Skrzek	...	Maid
Paulina Polak	...	Child
Agnieszka Kosinska	...	Child
Jacek Pietrzak	...	Child
Adam Pietrzak	...	Child
Leonard Brzoza	...	Child
Bartlomiej Borys	...	Child
Werner Widera	...	Child
Aleksander Widera	...	Child
Michal Tyrtania	...	Child
Anna Dzioba	...	Child
Mateusz Mroczka	...	Child
Laura Mroczka	...	Child
Katarzyna Ridzik	...	Child
Sabina Ridzik	...	Child
Dominika Matera	...	Child
Piotr Darkowski	...	Roode Roxx- Spanish Mounted Militia
Pawel Nieciecki	...	Roode Roxx- Spanish Mounted Militia
Katarzyna Suchan	...	Roode Roxx- Spanish Mounted Militia
Wojciech Gornicki	...	Roode Roxx- Spanish Mounted Militia
Monika Klama	...	Roode Roxx- Spanish Mounted Militia
Adam Kujawa	...	Roode Roxx- Spanish Mounted Militia
Grzegorz Widera	...	Soldier
Filip Habiniak	...	Soldier
Jakub Szczech	...	Soldier
Rafal Jozik	...	Soldier
Rafal Bochenek	...	Soldier
Lukasz Cichanski	...	Soldier
Michal Latko	...	Soldier
Lukasz Jakubowski	...	Soldier
Rafal Samusik	...	Soldier
Krzysztof Borówka	...	Soldier
Sebastian Bartyzel	...	Soldier
Andrzej Jonca	...	Mounted Official
Krzysztof Suchan	...	Mounted Official
Slawomir Solecki	...	Mounted Official
Andrzej Czuz	...	Mounted Official
Radoslaw Haber	...	Mounted Official
Hieronim Borzecki	...	Notable
Jerzy Glowacki	...	Notable
Marian Cygan	...	Notable
Zdzislaw Kazimierczak	...	Notable
Aleksander Pawlak	...	Notable
Krzyzstof Pander	...	Notable
Henryk Sikorski	...	Notable
Jerzy Drzymalski	...	Notable
Jan Modrzanski	...	Notable
Edward Malinowski	...	Notable
Seweryn Sobolewski	...	Notable
Henryk Wilk	...	Notable
Ireneusz Podgórski	...	Notable
Iza Banaszkiewicz-Mroczka	...	Procession
Piotr Mroczka	...	Procession
Gabriela Olczyk	...	Procession
Urszula Adamczyk	...	Procession
Krystyna Raznia	...	Procession
Joanna Kurdziel-Kosowska	...	Procesion
Anna Janiszewska	...	Procession
Slawomir Gradon	...	Procession
Wojciech Zych	...	Procession
Rafal Szczepaniak	...	Procession
Lukasz Miechowski	...	Procession
Jerzy Kostewicz	...	Procession
Piotr Sinkowski	...	Procession
Miroslaw Toporek	...	Procession
Jan Herla	...	Procession
Przemyslaw Marciniak	...	Procession
Janusz Rzepniewski	...	Procession
Maria Cubala	...	Procession
Pawel Burek	...	Procession
Robert Kowalczyk	...	Procession
Bronislaw Chowaniec	...	Procession
Filip Janota	...	Procession
Anna Twardowska	...	Procession
Izabela Rudzik	...	Procession
Marian Kijanka	...	Procession
Damian Bury	...	Procession
Pawel Krzaczkowski	...	Procession
Pawel Adamczyk	...	Procession
Janusz Grodom	...	Procession
Jakub Kubicki
Dawid Zielinski
Lukasz Kichowski
Lukasz Kasperczyk
Sebastian Kawecki
Robert Hyla
Tomasz Luczak
Krzysztof Foksinski
Tomasz Gebel
Wojciech Wilk
Dorota Labanowicz
Piotr Ziegler
Wojciech Kisiel
Marcin Halama
Karolina Jarczynska
Patrycja Kurzaj
Rafal Skrzypek

Directed by
Lech Majewski

Writing credits
Michael Francis Gibson		(screenplay) &
Lech Majewski		(screenplay)

Produced by
Marek Baczyk	....	associate producer
Krzysztof Bors	....	co-producer: Piramida Film
Marek Bystrosz	....	co-producer: Pyramida Film
Malgorzata Domin	....	line producer
Piotr Ledwig	....	line producer
Adam Lukaszek	....	associate producer
Lech Majewski	....	producer
Zbigniew Malecki	....	co-producer: Supra Film
Freddy Olsson	....	co-producer: Bokomotiv Filmproduktion AB
Pawel Plonka	....	co-producer: 24 Media
Dorota Roszkowska	....	co-producer: Arkana Studio
Leszek Rybarczyk	....	co-producer: Odeon Film Studio
Angelus Silesius	....	executive producer
Tomasz Szulc	....	co-producer: Odeon Film Studio
George Lekovic	....	consulting producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Lech Majewski
Józef Skrzek

Cinematography by
Lech Majewski		(director of photography)
Adam Sikora		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Eliot Ems
Norbert Rudzik

Production Design by
Marcel Slawinski
Katarzyna Sobanska-Strzalkowska		(as Katarzyna Sobanska)

Art Direction by
Stanislaw Porczyk

Set Decoration by
Iwona Cieciwa
Pracownia Graffiti
Izabela Handrysik

Costume Design by
Dorota Roqueplo

Makeup Department
Dariusz Krysiak	....	makeup designer
Hanna Lesna	....	makeup artist
Monika Mirowska	....	makeup designer

Production Management
Piotr Nowacki	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Krzysztof Borówka	....	second assistant director
Dorota Lis	....	first assistant director
Krzysztof Lukaszewicz	....	first assistant director
Rafal Samusik	....	second assistant director
Agata Szymanska	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Janusz Alberti	....	swing gang: set dressing
Rafal Gola	....	carpenter
Janina Gugala	....	set dresser: swing gang
Tadeusz Gugala	....	set dresser: swing gang
Bartlomiej Kita	....	carpenter
Wladyslaw Kita	....	construction coordinator
Jerzy Kostewicz	....	lead person
Joanna Macha	....	additional production designer
Lech Majewski	....	landscape design
Jerzy Mikolas	....	set dresser: swing gang
Jerzy Ozga	....	storyboard artist
Wojciech Ponczek	....	property master
Piotr Sinkowski	....	set dresser: swing gang
Krzysztof Swiderski	....	property master
Lech Traut	....	property master
Janusz Warchol	....	prop maker
Jerzy Ozga	....	draftsman (uncredited)

Sound Department
Bartlomiej Bogacki	....	boom operator
Marian Bogacki	....	sound recordist
Aleksander Dowsilas	....	adr recordist
Piotr Knop	....	sound mixer: Dolby Digital, Toya Studios
Lech Majewski	....	sound designer
Romana Malecka	....	foley artist
Zbigniew Malecki	....	sound designer
Zbigniew Malecki	....	sound mixer: Dolby Digital
Zbigniew Malecki	....	sound re-recording mixer
Zbigniew Malecki	....	supervising sound editor
I.J. May	....	foley artist
Pavel Stverák	....	dolby sound consultant
Jan Walencik	....	additional sound effects

Special Effects by
Norbert Rudzik	....	special effects supervisor

Visual Effects by
Dawid Borkiewicz	....	lead compositor: Odeon Film Studio
Lukasz Glowacz	....	flame artist: Odeon Film Studio
Piotr Kierzkowski	....	additional visual effects: Rosenbot
Artur Kopp	....	additional visual effects: Rosenbot
Pawel Krawczyk	....	3d modeller: Odeon Film Studio
Wojciech Lebkowski	....	additional visual effects: Rosenbot
Kamil Lenard	....	image technician engineer: Odeon Film Studio
Barbara Lepacka	....	digital paint artist: AWR Edytor Katowice
Waldemar Mordarski	....	lead compositor: Odeon Film Studio
Norbert Rudzik	....	compositing artist: Kataraman
Mariusz Skrzypczynski	....	3d animator: Odeon Film Studio
Pawel Tybora	....	visual effects supervisor
Mikolaj Valencia	....	additional visual effects supervisor: Odeon Film Studio

Stunts
Tomasz Gronowski	....	stunts
Mateusz Machnik	....	stunts
Andrzej Mrozinski	....	stunts
Wojciech Orlik	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
John Chrisstoffels	....	cloud formation photography: New Zealand (as John Crisstoffels)
Robert Drabek	....	best boy electric
Pawel Fiwek	....	additional camera crew
Pawel Fiwek	....	dolly grip
Marek Flisowski	....	additional camera crew
Krzysztof Kempka	....	additional camera crew
Tomasz Knapik	....	dolly grip
Katarzyna Koniarz	....	still photographer
Konrad Kosinski	....	lamp operator
Pawel Krawczyk	....	still photographer
Dariusz Krysiak	....	still photographer
Maciej Krzan	....	video operator
Filip Kwiatkowski	....	rigging gaffer
Maciej Maciejewski	....	lamp operator
Piotr Muschalik	....	still photographer
Mateusz Orszulski	....	still photographer
Agnieszka Ozdoba	....	additional camera crew
Rafal Piotrowski	....	additional camera crew
Pawel Plonka	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Piotr Rajman	....	second assistant camera
Norbert Rudzik	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Michal Rudzki	....	additional camera crew
Pawel Satala	....	dolly grip
Bartlomiej Sejwa	....	still photographer
Pawel Sturlis	....	gaffer
Krzysztof Szubartowski	....	first assistant camera
Pawel Tybora	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Pawel Wittecki	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Tomasz Wozniczka	....	camera operator
Piotr Zalewski	....	gaffer

Casting Department
Krzysztof Borówka	....	extras casting
Dorota Lis	....	extras casting
Rafal Samusik	....	extras casting
Beata Wisniewska	....	extras casting: ABM Studio

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sheila Barquilla	....	costume provider
Emilia Czartoryska	....	assistant to costume designer
Pola Gomólka	....	key costumer
Ewa Kochanska	....	costume supervisor
Jonathan Lipman	....	costume provider
Ewa Majewska	....	seamstress
Agnieszka Miluniec	....	key costumer
Wanda Skiba	....	seamstress
Jodie Spiers	....	costume provider
Beata Swiecicka	....	key costumer
Bozena Tomaszewska	....	seamstress
Theresa Ward	....	costume provider
Marzena Wojciechowska	....	key costumer

Editorial Department
Ewa Chudzik	....	color timer
Jacek Cieslinski	....	digital intermediate conform editor
Jaroslaw Migala	....	digital intermediate conform editor
Malgorzata Roguska	....	laboratory head of production

Music Department
Maciej Dowsilas	....	music recordist: Polskie Radio Katowice
Józef Skrzek	....	musician
Martin Walach	....	musician
Zbigniew Walach	....	musician

Transportation Department
Dariusz Jojko	....	transportation captain
Maciej Klaja	....	provider: campers
Artur Olszewski	....	transportation captain
Andrzej Osek	....	provider: limousines, AWOS SP Z.O.O.
Bogdan Skworc	....	chief driver
Jerzy Tura	....	chief driver

Other crew
Barbara Bialowas	....	making of
Helena Biba	....	voice actor: Flemish, Wilamowice Crew
Magdalena Blocian	....	office production assistant
Lucia Bozikova	....	animal coordinator: crows
Katarzyna Brewinska	....	script supervisor
Damian Bury	....	stand-in: Mr. Hauer
Dagmara Drzazga	....	making of
Anna Foks	....	voice actor: Flemish, Wilamowice Crew
Elzbieta Gandor	....	voice actor: Flemish, Wilamowice Crew
Józef Gara	....	voice actor: Flemish, Wilamowice Crew
Anna Gibula	....	assistant: Mr. York
Pola Gomólka	....	assistant: Ms. Rampling
Aneta Grabos	....	animal coordinator: dogs
Marian Kijanka	....	stand-in: Mr. York
Katarzyna Koniarz	....	script supervisor
Gabriel Król	....	voice actor: Flemish, Wilamowice Crew
Tymoteusz Król	....	voice actor: Flemish, Wilamowice Crew
Anna Kuczmierczyk	....	voice actor: Flemish, Wilamowice Crew
Stefania Kuczmierczyk	....	voice actor: Flemish, Wilamowice Crew
Justyna Majerska	....	voice actor: Flemish, Wilamowice Crew
Przemyslaw Marciniak	....	production assistant
Hiero Javier Mellado	....	voice actor: Spanish Militia
Pavel Michal	....	animal coordinator: crows
Franciszek Mosler	....	voice actor: Flemish, Wilamowice Crew
Elizbieta Mynarska	....	voice actor: Flemish, Wilamowice Crew
Marek Mysliwiec	....	caterer: Resturacja Lania
Nanoq Nakokrii	....	language consultant
Agnieszka Odorowicz	....	co-financier: Polish Film Institute
Urszula Palusinska	....	title designer
Samuel Rodriguez	....	language consultant
Samuel Rodriguez	....	voice actor: Spanish Militia
Stanislaw Rozner	....	voice actor: Flemish, Wilamowice Crew
Monika Sieradzka	....	assistant: Mr. Hauer
Przemyslaw Siwiec	....	location manager
Michal Skrzeczek	....	location manager
Natalia Stejskalová	....	animal coordinator: crows
Beata Swiecicka	....	stand-in: Ms. Rampling
Ewa Szoltysek	....	accountant
Ewa Szoltysek	....	production controller
Konstanty Szwender	....	insurance: Opus Film
Alesandro Tiago	....	voice actor: Spanish Militia
Anna Twrdowska	....	stand-in: Ms. Rampling

Thanks
Sabine Haag	....	special thanks (as Dr. Sabine Haag)
Ilse Jung	....	special thanks
Florian Kugler	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Telewizja Polska (TVP) (co-producer)
• Bokomotiv Freddy Olsson Filmproduktion (as Bokomotiv Filmproduktion)
• Odeon (co-producer) (as Odeon Film Studio)
• Arkana Studio (co-producer)
• Silesia Film (co-producer)
• 24 Media (co-producer)
• Supra Film (co-producer)
• Piramida Film (co-producer)

Distributors

• Aquelarre Servicios Cinematograficos (2012) (Spain) (theatrical) (as Aquelarre Servicios Cinematográficos S.L.)
• Broadmedia Studios (2011) (Japan) (theatrical)
• CG Home Video (2012) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Euro Space (2011) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Japan Community Cinema Center (2011) (Japan) (theatrical) (in association with)
• Joint Entertainment International (2011) (Taiwan) (theatrical)
• Kino Lorber (2011) (USA) (theatrical)
• New Star (2011) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Sophie Dulac Distribution (2011) (France) (theatrical)
• Zeta Films (2012) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Alambique Destilaria de Ideias Unipessoal (2012) (Portugal) (all media)
• Kino Video (2012) (USA) (DVD)
• Kino Video (2012) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)

Special Effects

• Odeon Rybarczyk Productions (visual effects) (as Odeon Film Studio)
• Kataraman (additional visual effects)
• AWR Edytor Katowice (2d matte painting)
• Rosenbot (additional visual effects)

Other Companies

• 24 Media  camera equipment (as 24Media)
• ABM Studio  extras casting
• Agencia Ochrony Osób I Mienia Perfekcja  security
• Angels the Costumiers  costumes provided by
• Awos  limousines
• Mastershot Studio  camera equipment
• Morris Angel & Son Ltd.  costumes provided by
• Opus Film  insurance
• Piramida Film  lighting and electrical equipment
• Polish Film Institute  co-financing
• Polskie Radio Katowice  music recording facility
• Restauracja Lania  catering
• Restauracja Targowa  catering
• Silesia Film  camera equipment
• Sokolnici Zo Sokollarskej Skupiny SV Bavona Z Banskej Stiavnice  crows provided by
• Stado Ogierów Bialka Z.O.O. Gospodarstwo Hippiczno-Hodowlane.Koniczyny  horses provided by
• Supra Film  foleys
• Toya Studios  sound mixing facility: Dolby Digital
• Wytwórnia Filmów Dokumentalnych i Fabularnych (WFDiF) Warszawa  laboratory

Also Known As:

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

Poland | Sweden

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Japan:PG12 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Italy:T | Portugal:M/12 | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Kunsthistoriches Museum, Vienna, Austria

Company:

Telewizja Polska (TVP)

Goofs:

Anachronisms: 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.

Excellent, unusual film

The Mill and the Cross (2011)

The Polish film "The Mill and the Cross" was co-written and directed by Lech Majewski It stars Rutger Hauer as Pieter Bruegel, and co-stars Charlotte Rampling and Michael York.

The film consists of an attempt to bring to life Bruegel's 1564 painting, "The Procession to Calvary." I have seen this painting in the Kunsthistoriche Museum in Vienna. Once you've seen it, you don't forget it, because it is filled with people and action. (Although, in the painting, Jesus has just collapsed under the weight of the cross, so, in a sense, action has been frozen for a few seconds.)

The painting is also remarkable for a very strange symbol--a windmill placed high atop a stony crag. In the film, Bruegel explains that the miller looks down from his mill and sees everything that is happening below, just as God looks down from heaven and can see everything. So, the mill and the miller work symbolically. However, in a practical sense, the mill would never be that high on an large, steep, stony crag. If a mill were really in that location, no one could bring the wheat to the mill or take away the flour.

The other dominant vertical structure is a cartwheel, raised high on a long pole. This was the device used by the Spanish rulers of the Netherlands to execute and display prisoners. The prisoner was tied to the wheel, and the wheel was hoisted far up in the air. The device prevented anyone from helping the person--if alive--or removing the body. Only the carrion birds could reach the body, which they did, with predictable results.

Technology in the 21st Century makes everything possible, so it's no surprise that the painting is reproduced in the film in a real landscape. Sometimes all the figures are frozen, but other times you can see a cow moving or some other action taking place. The special effects are routine by now, but the manner in which they are used is not routine.

We really have the sense that we are looking at a landscape, and the artist is putting it down on canvas before our eyes. This is a highly creative way to look at life the way an artist sees it, and then look at the way life is transformed and committed to canvas.

We saw this film on the large screen at the excellent Rochester Polish Film Festival. It really will work better in a theater. However, if that's not an option, it's worth seeing on DVD.