Medieval is a Czech film
made in the English language and theatrically released in the States (it’s out
as of the time of this review). The title is rather broad and simple (it’s like
calling a film set within the last couple centuries Modern) but considering that the average American won’t know anything
about the specific events depicted it’s just as well. I was drawn to this movie
because it takes place in Bohemia, the land of my paternal ancestors. Czech director
Petr Jakl focuses on the rise of Jan Zizka (Ben Foster), a famed Czech military
hero, prior to the Hussite Wars (1418-1434). The Hussite Wars were a series of
struggles within the Holy Roman Empire. These were centered in Bohemia, where
theologian Jan Hus presaged the Protestant Reformation with his calls for
church reform and an emphasis on Scripture over leading clergymen for authority.
Since Medieval’s narrative precedes the wars, Jan Hus is off to the side, but his criticisms of church and politics does tie into one of the story’s central conflicts, which is how the common people are victimized by the machinations of Papal and royal politics. In the early 15th Century the Roman Catholic Church is split between two popes, one in Rome and the other in France, and the title of Holy Roman Emperor is unoccupied. This results in violent chaos throughout Europe. In an attempt to reunite the Church under Rome and stabilize Europe, Lord Bores (Michael Caine) plans to have Zizka escort Bohemian King Wenceslas IV (Karl Roden) to Rome where he will be crowned Holy Roman Emperor. Scheming King Sigismund of Hungary (Matthew Goode) also has his eyes on the throne, and forms an antagonistic alliance with tyrannical Bohemian nobleman Rosenberg (Til Schweiger). In an attempt to neutralize Rosenberg, Lord Bores has Zizka abduct his French fiancĂ©e Catherine (Sophie Lowe). Thanks to a series of double-crosses and Sigismund’s own agenda, Zizka and his mercenaries end up allying with peasant rebels against Sigismund and his nasty mercenary leader Torak (Roland Moller). If you think this is hard to follow, you’re correct. If you don’t have any decent historical knowledge of this period in history you might find yourself lost.
