Film Review: Quo Vadis (2001)
Until Andrzej Sapkowski’s The Witcher series the most popular work of Polish literature among global audience was Quo Vadis, 1896 novel by Henryk Sienkiewicz. This can be explained by the strong Christian message that resonated among Christian readers all over the world, but also due to its plot and setting being used by the more ambitious film makers in 20th Century. This included those in Sienkiewicz’s native Poland, which in 2001 produced another adaptation written and directed by Jerzy Kawalerowicz, which was considered one of the most expensive works of Polish cinema at the start of 21st Century.
The plot is set in Rome in year 64 AD, at the time when Roman Empire rules most of the known world. Protagonist, played by Paweł Deląg, is Marcus Vinicius, young patrician noble who meets and hopelessly falls in love with Lygia (played by Magdalena Mielcarz), young barbarian princess who was sent to Rome as hostage from the areas of today’s Poland. When she refuses his advances, Marcus seeks help from his friend Petronius (played by Boguslaw Linda), influential courtier of young, arrogant and tyrannical emperor Nero (played by Michal Bajor) who has authority to give away Rome’s hostage. Lygia, however, disappears and Vicinius starts looking for her, ultimately discovering that she has joined new and growing sect known as “Christians”. Vinicius gradually warms up to Lygia’s beliefs and is on the way to become Christian himself, but his future happiness is endangered by the great fire of Rome. In order to appease angry crowds, emperor finds convenient scapegoat in Christians who are to be arrested and cruelly executed in front of bloodthirsty crowds in the arena.
Obviously inspired by the grand success of Gladiator, Studio Filmowe Kadr, powerhouse of Polish cinema, spared no effort to prove that it could compete not only with modern Hollywood but also with its classics, including famed version from fifty years earlier. Veteran Jerzy Kawallerowicz, although renowned as one of the founders of Kadr and prominent members of famed Polish Film School movement in 1950s, was somewhat unusual choice for the director, mostly on the account of his old age. He nevertheless showed great skill in handling large budget and successfully recreated ancient Rome. As a screenwriter, he maintained strong pro-Christian message of what is often considredd “the Catholic novel”, but he added some nuance mainly by giving more emphasis to the non-Christian character of Petronius. This could be explained by Kawalerowicz’s own past as a Party member during Communist rule and his efforts to find compromise beyond serving regime and trying to slip some of the creative freedoms through its cracks. It isn’t difficult to imagine Kawalerowicz identifying with Petronius who is played with great skill by Boguslaw Linda, one of the most iconic Polish actors of its time. Michel Bajor is also very good and convincing as Nero, although he can’t compete with Peter Ustinov in 1951 version.
New film also brings something new compared with earlier versions in term of exploitation cinema content. There is some nudity and the scene when lions kills Christians in arena is not only very violent, but also present example of superb animal handling and stunt work. This, however, can’t compensate for some of the film’s flaws that including bad editing, tepid dialogue and, most importantly, role of Lygia being played by fashion supermodel Magdalena Mielcarz who doesn’t try to hide her almost complete lack of acting experience. Quo Vadis had very good results at the domestic box office, but was all but ignored by international audiences, which probably encountered it through home video or television.
RATING: 5/10 (++)
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