Saturday, 18 September 2021 18:54

Simon Magus






SIMON MAGUS

UK, 1999, 101 minutes, Colour.
Noah Taylor, Stuart Townsend, Sean Mc Ginley, Embeth Davidtz, Amanda Ryan, Rutger Hauer, Ian Holm, Terence Rigby, David de Keyser, Jean Anderson.
Directed by Ben Hopkins.

Simon Magus is an interesting and rather exotic film. It is very much in the vein of Jewish tales that were told about communities in central Europe in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. This tale is set in what is now Poland in the 19th century, the time of industrialisation, changes in farming and marketing, the introduction of the railway.

Writer-director Ben Hopkins (who has not followed this film with a strong career) recreates the atmosphere of the period with great style. The location photography is beautiful. He uses light and darkness to great effect for creating atmosphere in this isolated village. The film focuses on the Jewish community, being depleted with people moving from the country to the city. When the threat of industrialisation and markets comes with trains, it could be the end of the life of the village.

The lord of the region (Rutger Hauer) is a cultivated poet whom the traders want to sell them his land. The studious Jew, played by Stuart Townsend, wants to persuade the lord to sell some land so that the Jews can build a station and establish their own market.

Noah Taylor is Simon Magus, a simpleton who is used by the prejudiced locals to be part of a plot to discredit the Jews. He is both pawn and martyr.

The film has a very strong cast and is well played. It is intriguing for those who are fascinated by the stories of anti-Semitism and persecution in central Europe in the 19th century.

1.The film as a fable? Jewish fable? The 19th century? The German- Hungarian empire? The Jewish tone, the traditions?

2.The 19th century settings, the village, poverty, the merchants? The squire and his home, culture? The railway, the markets? Industrialisation and the emerging 19th century?

3.The landscapes, the period, costumes and décor? The score and traditional songs?

4.The visual style, the aspects of German expressionism, silent film styles for example the credits? The use of light and darkness?

5.The title, Simon Magus, Simon the magician? In various traditions? In the Acts of the Apostles and the confrontation with Peter? Christian and Jewish relationships? Adapting the character to the traditions?

6.The portrait of Simon? A simple Simon? His age, intelligence, with the children, collecting the sewage? Practical jokes played on him? His awkward manner with people? With the Jewish group, to be part of them or not, their need for another man and whether they would accept him or not? With the squire, with the merchants? His encounter with the Devil? His being persuaded by the Devil to go with the merchants, to warn the people about the railway, curses? His talking to the plants? The plan, his being deceived? The cross, the priest? His nightmares? His being used? The Passover, the merchants’ plan, the parcel with the baby? His going to the Passover ceremony? The opening of the package – the intrusion of the merchants? Their being deceived? His vindication? The barbarity of the setting of the house on fire and his burning to death?

7.The appearance of the Devil, his look, manner of speaking? Simon recognising him? Talking at the crossroads? The Devil and his temptation, testing Simon, his Jewish belonging, not belonging, denying his background? The bargain? Christianity? The curses? The railway and the consequences?

8.The group of Jewish elders, the changes in the town, people moving away, the group, the requisite number, Simon coming in, whether he complemented the group? Their having to cope, the religious celebrations? The clashes with the merchants? The market, the station? The Passover celebration, Simon’s arrival? The ritual? The children? The anti-Semitic attack? The leader? Rabbi?

9.Dovid, a good man, his skills, studies, dairy farmer? His plan? Going to the squire, the discussions? The poetry? His encounter with the young woman, helping her to read? The poetry? His courting of Leah? Her being a widow, rejecting him? Yet her jealousy about his teaching the girl? The return to the squire? The effect of Simon and his denunciation? Dovid and his not wanting the land? His appreciation of the poetry, the discussion of the verse? The effect on the squire? His giving him the land? Dovid as happy, the plans? His going to Leah, the reconciliation with her? The happiness with her?

10.Leah, her place in the town, her shop, the cooking? Widow? Children? Good, industrious, the touch of jealousy, the reconciliation?

11.Bratislav, the inn, his serving people, his talk, advice? His friendship with the squire and the squire relying on him?

12.The squire, the gentleman, his culture, feeling that he was living in a backwater, writing his poetry? With Bratislav? With his servants? The visit of Dovid, the discussions about the poetry, teaching the girl to read – and the infatuation of the squire with the young girl? Her reading to please him? His attitude towards the railway, his finding the sound distasteful? The visit of Maximilian Hase? Money, lack of appreciation of the poetry – not having time to read? The motivations for his decision? The finale with Sarah?

13.The little girl, her illness, health, her being healed?

14.The old couple, their place in the village, the bonds together?

15.Maximilian Hase, the merchants, the presuppositions, the pressure on the squire, wanting the land, the plan for the market? Anti-Semitic? Their use of Simon? His curses? The raid at the Passover, the plan, Maximilian and his diabolical attack? His being deceived? Their taking out their vengeance and cruelty on Simon?

16.The priest, his role in the village, Christians and Jews? Simon and his interest in Christianity, the crucifix? The anti-Semitic aspects of the church?

17.The way the film ended – the camera roving through the village, seeing everyone, seeing them content? A humane film?

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