The Mill and the Cross

The Mill and the Cross



I had just returned home from shopping and seeing a film. I was prepared to stay in, bake and have a quiet evening. My son and daughter-in-law called to say they were on their way to this film and I should join them. I dropped everything and ran. I confess I thought I was going to see an old story by my favorite author, Thomas Hardy. I wish I had known.

This film is creative and quite wonderful in many ways. The only problem was the horror I had to watch.

Visually the film is pure art. The story was written and directed by Lech Majewski. The film takes us inside the painting The Way To Calvary by Flemish artist Pieter Bruegel. The painting itself is quite complicated and magnificent. The background of the film is often like a still painting. In the front, actors move around. At times the actors take full presence. Even when the actors are performing they tend to move slowly. The camera often lingers on a face. It is as if the characters have stepped out of the painting.

The miller lives in a structure on top of a mountain. I was fascinated with the workings of the mill. He is obviously poor and lives in a meager one room dwelling with his wife and worker. He gets up in the morning and starts examining the ground grain (before even washing his hands)

We meet a young couple who obviously are much in love. Unfortunately he had spoken against the religion. Always hovering around are the dreaded militia in their red coats. They swoop up the unfortunate young man and beat him senseless. They tie him to a wheel and hoist him up on a tall pole to allow the birds to have a feast. Could you watch that scene?

The militia is ruthless beyond belief and unfortunately they play a large role in this film. I had to witness a young girl buried alive and many men crucified.

The artist in town tells the tale. There is some humor with the artist and his family. Five children slept in one bed and others are on the floor. The kids are always running around and play fighting. Is that supposed to be a contrast to the horrible fight of the red coated Spaniards against the people? The artist walks around with his large book and sketches everything he sees. He compares his drawings to a spider web. The strings of the web lure your eye to the centre. The centre of the picture is the crucifiction. The painting is filled with many different scenes and each filament of the web takes us to that central sight.

A nobleman in the village also relates some of the story. He is against the brutality. He states that there is a circle of life and a circle of death. “He says,” If only we could bring a stop to the brutality.”

The Way to the Calvary was apparently the artist’s way of protesting over the Catholic persecutions in Spain.

I would very much like to see the original painting. The film asks a lot of you in coping with the brutality. There is also a majestic side of the film in viewing a painting that becomes alive. The cinematography was superb.

I think only the TIFF Bell Lightbox would be so brave to show this upsetting film. While you are at the Lightbox make sure you see the show on Princess Grace in the gallery. What a contradiction that was after seeing the film.