Topic: Middle Ages

Direction Ingmar Bergman

Cast Max von Sydow · Gunnar Björnstrand · Nils Poppe · Bibi Andersson

Synopsis The Seventh Seal (1957) follows Antonius Block, a disillusioned knight portrayed by Max Von Sydow, who comes back from a decade-long crusade with his loyal squire, Jöns, played by Gunnar Björnstrand. Upon their return, they discover their homeland devastated by...

Direction Andrei Tarkovsky

Cast Anatoly Solonitsyn · Ivan Lapikov · Nikolai Sergeyev · Nikolai Grinko

Synopsis Andrei Rublev (1966) is a cinematic journey through the tumultuous life of the renowned Russian icon painter, Andrei Rublev, set against the backdrop of medieval Russia during the early 15th century. The film is structured into seven distinct segments, each...

Direction Mel Gibson

Cast Mel Gibson · Sophie Marceau · Patrick McGoohan · Angus MacFadyen

Synopsis Braveheart (1995) is a historical epic that draws inspiration from the life of the famed 13th-century Scottish hero, William Wallace. After returning to his native Scotland following the passing of a childless monarch, Wallace (Mel Gibson) encounters a tumultuous political...

Direction Ingmar Bergman

Cast Max von Sydow · Birgitta Valberg · Gunnel Lindblom · Birgitta Pettersson

Synopsis The Virgin Spring (1960) unfolds in medieval Sweden, presenting a grim tale of a peasant couple whose innocent daughter, a pure maiden, meets a tragic end at the hands of goat herders. After her half-sister utters an ancient pagan curse,...

Direction Jean-Jacques Annaud

Cast Sean Connery · Christian Slater · F. Murray Abraham · Michael Lonsdale

Synopsis The Name of the Rose (1986) is a cinematic adaptation of Umberto Eco's renowned novel, set in the 14th century during a significant papal conclave in a secluded Italian abbey. The narrative revolves around the enigmatic figure of William of...

Direction Orson Welles

Cast Orson Welles · Keith Baxter · John Gielgud · Jeanne Moreau

Synopsis Chimes at Midnight (1965) presents the life of Sir John Falstaff, a central figure in a narrative woven from scenes of Shakespeare's 'Henry IV' and other plays. The film chronicles Falstaff's journey as a jovial and philosophical companion to the...

Direction Shuhei Yabuta

Synopsis Vinland Saga (TV Series) (2019) is an epic historical drama that spans multiple seasons and episodes. The story begins with Thorfinn, a young boy captivated by the tales of a distant land to the west, Vinland, as told by the...

Direction Richard Curtis · Rowan Atkinson · Martin Shardlow · Geoff Posner

Cast Rowan Atkinson · Stephen Frost · Tim McInnerny · Tony Robinson

Synopsis The Black Adder (TV Series) (1983) is a British historical sitcom that aired from 1983 to 1989, spanning 4 seasons and 25 episodes. The series is set in England during the late 15th century, at the conclusion of the War...

Direction Benjamin Christensen

Cast Elisabeth Christensen · Astrid Holm · Karen Winther · Maren Pedersen

Synopsis Häxan: Witchcraft Through the Ages (1922) offers a comprehensive historical exploration of witchcraft through seven distinct segments, each employing a unique style. The documentary commences with a slide-show presentation that intersperses inter-titles with drawings and paintings to depict the beliefs...

Direction Frantisek Vlácil

Cast Josef Kemr · Magda Vásáryová · Nada Hejna · Jaroslav Moucka

Synopsis Marketa Lazarová (1967) unfolds in the tumultuous medieval era, where a small Czech tribe faces the wrath of the King. This epic tale is set against the backdrop of a shifting religious landscape, as Christianity begins to supplant Paganism, leading...

Direction Jacques Tourneur

Cast Burt Lancaster · Virginia Mayo · Nick Cravat · Robert Douglas

Synopsis The Flame and the Arrow (1950) is set in the 12th century in Lombardy, where the region is oppressed by the tyrannical German overlord, Count Ulrich 'The Hawk'. However, in the mountains, a group of rebels continues to fight against...

Direction Frantisek Vlácil

Cast Petr Cepek · Jan Kacer · Vera Galatíková · Zdenek Kryzánek

Synopsis Valley of the Bees (1968) follows the journey of Ondrej, a young boy with a unique fascination for bees and bats. His life takes a dramatic turn when he is introduced to his new mother, a woman significantly younger than...

Direction Michael Hirst · Ken Girotti · Ciaran Donnelly · Jeff Woolnough

Cast Travis Fimmel · Katheryn Winnick · Gustaf Skarsgård · Alexander Ludwig

Synopsis Vikings (TV Series) (2013) is a historical drama that spans six seasons and 89 episodes, chronicling the life of Ragnar Lothbrok, a legendary Viking hero. The show delves into the tales of Ragnar's Viking comrades and his family, as he...

Direction Peter Glenville

Cast Richard Burton · Peter O'Toole · John Gielgud · Donald Wolfit

Synopsis Becket (1964) is a historical drama that delves into the complex relationship between King Henry II of England and the Church. When the Archbishop of Canterbury passes away, Henry II seizes the opportunity to appoint a more malleable figure to...

Direction Orson Welles

Cast Orson Welles · Jeanette Nolan · Dan O'Herlihy · Roddy McDowall

Synopsis Macbeth (1948) follows the tale of a devoted enforcer, Macbeth, who serves under the ruthless crime lord, Duncan. After encountering a trio of teenage witches who foretell his rise to power, Macbeth becomes consumed by ambition. Collaborating with his wife,...

Direction William Dieterle

Cast Charles Laughton · Maureen O'Hara · Cedric Hardwicke · Thomas Mitchell

Synopsis The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939) is a timeless adaptation of Victor Hugo's renowned novel, standing out as one of the most celebrated film interpretations from Hollywood's golden era. This version, released in 1939, is often compared to the 1923...

Direction Anthony Harvey

Cast Katharine Hepburn · Peter O'Toole · Jane Merrow · Anthony Hopkins

Synopsis The Lion in Winter (1968) unfolds during the Christmas of 1183, as the cunning and aging King Henry II orchestrates a gathering with the intent to designate his heir. He invites a cast of influential figures to the festivities: his...

Direction Terry Jones · Terry Gilliam

Cast John Cleese · Michael Palin · Terry Jones · Terry Gilliam

Synopsis Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) presents the comedic adventures of King Arthur and his knights as they embark on a quest for the Holy Grail. This isn't your typical tale of medieval knights and horses; instead, due to...

Direction Richard Fleischer

Cast Kirk Douglas · Tony Curtis · Ernest Borgnine · Janet Leigh

Synopsis The Vikings (1958) follows the tale of Einar and Eric, two Viking half-brothers with vastly different backgrounds. Einar is a formidable warrior, while Eric is a former slave, each unaware of the other's true identity. As the throne of Northumbria...

Direction Thea Sharrock

Cast Tom Hiddleston · John Hurt · Julie Walters · Richard Griffiths

Synopsis The Hollow Crown: Henry V (TV) (2012) chronicles the transformation of Hal into a mature and dutiful king, Henry V, following his estrangement from Falstaff, which ultimately leads to Falstaff's demise. Upon learning of his ancestral claim to the French...