THE MILL AND THE CROSS

Poland, 2011, 92 minutes, Colour.
Rutger Hauer, Michael York, Charlotte Rampling, Joanna Litwin, Dorota Lis.
Directed by Lech Majewski.

The Mill and the Cross is a Renaissance story, focusing on a painting by the artist Pieter Bruegel. While it focuses on the biblical theme, the crucifixion, those in attendance, used the people in the town to be the subjects of the painting. The film opens with the townspeople donning their costumes and makeup and finding their places in the painting.

The story then moves to looking at various characters in the town, the religious background, interactions and relationships, issues of justice.

The film employs an international cast, Rutger Hauer portraying Bruegel as he prepares for his painting, moves around the town, meets the people, does his work. Michael York plays one of the dignitaries of the town. Charlotte Rampling is one of the family women in the town.

The film raises issues of the period, civic organisation, tensions, enmities, politicking. There are also issues of personal relationships.

Lech Majewski, director and writer, has made films with such intellectual titles as Angelus, Metaphysics.

1. Audience knowledge of the artist? His work? The introduction to his work, the tableau vivant? Art, art history, politics and religion?

2. The director, his perspectives and work? Religious and secular?

3. The response of the audience, art appreciation, art come alive, history alive, understanding the period, the dramatic perspectives?

4. The importance of the photography, the lighting, production values, costumes, sets, backdrops? The musical score?

5. Bruegel, his paintings? The plan for this painting, setting the stage, positions, costumes, the range of people? Coming together at the end, the stills, the gallery, the painting, appreciation?

6. Rutger Hauer as Breugel, his arrival in the town, with the family, his continually observing, interactions with the townspeople, keeping aloof, the positions for the painting, his creativity?

7. Michael York, the aristocrat, the life, observation, the town and its government, ordinary people, soldiers, the issues of religion, heretics and judgment? His place in the painting?

8. Charlotte Rampling as Mary, in herself, in the house, her work, ordinary, at the door, her role in the painting, reflection and contemplation?

9. Jesus as a character, the man portraying him, the background, his being stripped, flogged, walking, the persecution as a Protestant?

10. The soldiers, Spanish occupation, cruelty, religion and heresy, brutality, arrests and torture?

11. The issue of the heretics, their arrest, keeping them in custody, their suffering, the coffins, transport?

12. The ordinary busyness of the town, businesses, the people wanting to be in the painting?

13. The celebration, music, dance, the Ring of Life?

14. The film stylised yet realistic, a portrait of society, the status of people and their activities?

15. The overall cinematic effect over and above that of music and painting?