Faraon . Pharaoh
Duration: 02:25:00 One of the most acclaimed Polish historical films. The young Ramses XIII wants to modernize and reform the Egyptian state but faces fierce opposition from the caste of priests. The priests are so powerful that an army has to make a detour just because a priest noticed sacred scara...
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| Institution: | Open Society Archives at Central European University |
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Zespoły Filmowe Kadr
1966
Poland |
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10891/osa:cf7b8108-589f-4a08-ae3c-d1480db60299 |
| Summary: | Duration: 02:25:00
One of the most acclaimed Polish historical films. The young Ramses XIII wants to modernize and reform the Egyptian state but faces fierce opposition from the caste of priests. The priests are so powerful that an army has to make a detour just because a priest noticed sacred scarabs fighting in the sand. The detour costs lives and destroys a canal dug by slaves. Disillusioned, Ramses wonders alone in the desert; he meets a beautiful Jewish woman and soon marries her. The priests convince the ruling Pharaoh that Ramses is too young to lead the army. Yet, he gains some influence as the Phoenicians learn that the priests are drafting a peace treaty with Assyria that is disadvantageous to Egypt. The film is based on a novel by Bolesław Prus, written in 1894-5. As Czesław Miłosz wrote, it was a “unique […] study of the mechanisms of state power”, and it was said to be Stalin's favorite book. Kawalerowicz’s adaptation was shot during fierce struggles between the Communist Party and the Catholic Church, and is as aesthetically refined and well crafted as Prust’s novel. |
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| Published: | 1966 |