NOSTRADAMUS
UK, 1993, 126 minutes, Colour.
Tcheky Karyo, F. Murray Abraham, Rutger Hauer, Amanda Plummer, Julia Ormond, Assumpta Serna, Anthony Higgins, Diana Quick, Michael Gough, Maja Morgenstern.
Directed by Roger Christian.
If audiences want the historical setting for the life and times of Michel de Nostradam (1503-1566), then they will find something here to interest them: his medical background, his reading of forbidden books, his psychic experiences and Catherine de Medici (Amanda Plummer). If audiences want to delve into the prophecies and their alleged fulfilment, then they will have to be satisfied with some footage from newsreels about Hitler, Nazis and World War II, the Kennedy assassination and Saddam Hussein (seen in his washing dish). The only prophecies after the 1990s safely concern space exploration and human hope. Otherwise this is an international mixture of stars (Tcheky Karyo as Nostradamus, Julia Ormond and Assumpta Serna as his wives, Anthony Higgins and Diana Quick as Henry II and his mistress plotting against him), pageantry and many touches of bathos (and passing off Nostradamus as something of a sexpot). The direction is by Roger Christian (Lorca and The Outlaws). Good historical settings but weak drama.
1. The popularity of Nostradamus over the centuries, his reputation for prophecies, audiences interested in his life, his prophecies? The way that they have been interpreted, in his time, shrewd observations, people reading backwards events into the prophecies? The stance of the film, seeing Nostradamus as an authentic prophet?
2. France in the 16th century, people’s ordinary lives, the towns, the detail of daily living? The contrast with the court of the Medicis? Sumptuous style and décor, costumes? The musical score?
3. The portrait of Nostradamus himself, his Jewish background, his conversion to Christianity, his secret books, his work at medical school, the herbal cures, his antagonism towards bleeding? The attitude of the Inquisition and persecution? His joining the house of Scalinger, the heretical scientists and their group? Their library, Michel and his reading the books? Marie and her work as Scalinger’s apprentice, Nostradamus and his rescue of her from her depression, marriage, their children? His work in astrology? The beginning of the visions, the destruction, the assassinations (and the images of the destroyed city during the opening credits)? The plague, Marie’s death, the children? The forbidden book in Marie’s possession, the persecution of Nostradamus, his fleeing, abandoning his library? His marriage to Anne, his burning the books to avoid the persecution, the growing number of prophecies, their publication? His work with the King of France, the prophecy about the death of the king, the jousting, Catherine de Medici and her response? Her own reaction to her husband’s dalliances, Diane de Portier? Henry and Diane, the attempt to kill Nostradamus, the poison, the help of Catherine de Medici? His reassuring prophecies to her, about her children and their becoming rulers of France? The prophecy about her long life? His sister-in-law, the denunciation, her own sexual advances towards him and his rejection? The support of Catherine de Medici, his being saved from the Inquisition? The beginning of the religious wars after the death of King Henry? The final prophecies – especially of the 20th century, the 1960s, the 1990s – but very little beyond except general hope?
4. Catherine de Medici, her husband, his death in the jousting accident, her curiosity about Nostradamus, fascination with him, supporting him, his prophecies about her and her children? Her saving him from the Inquisition? Her husband, his affair, the plot of Henry and Diane to kill Nostradamus? The royalty in France in the 16th century?
5. Scalinger, the cabal of scientists, their methods, secrecy, library? Herbal cures? Advances in medicine? Scalinger himself, his leadership? Marie, her work for Scalinger, her attempted suicide, Nostradamus’s help, marriage? Her death with the plague?
6. Anne, the widow, her attraction towards Nostradamus, their marrying? His own plight, pretending to be a Christian, continuing with his prophecies? The advances of Helen, his rejection, her vengeance and denunciation?
7. The plausibility of having a prophet in the 16th century, making prophecies about the future – audiences intrigued, superstition, faith in prophecies rather than authentic revelation and facts?
