The Navigator: A Mediaeval Odyssey (1988)

The Navigator: A Mediaeval Odyssey (1988) (DVD) (*)

Out of Stock

Screened, competed or awarded at:
Australian Film Institute
Cannes Film Festival
Fantasporto Awards
Other Film Festival Awards

Language Selections:
English ( Dolby Digital Stereo )
Spanish ( Dolby Digital Stereo )

Product Origin/Format:
Spain ( PAL/Region 0 )

Running Time:
90 min

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen

Special Features:
Interactive Menu
Scene Access

Movie filmed in 1988 and produced in:
Australia ( Australia, New Zealand )
New Zealand ( Australia, New Zealand )

Directed By:
Vincent Ward
Kely Lyons

Written By:
Vincent Ward
Geoff Chapple

Actors:
Bruce Lyons ..... Connor
Chris Haywood ..... Arno
Hamish McFarlane ..... Griffin
Marshall Napier ..... Searle
Noel Appleby ..... Ulf
Paul Livingston ..... Martin
Sarah Peirse ..... Linnet
Mark Wheatley ..... Tog 1
Tony Herbert ..... Tog 2
Jessica Cardiff-Smith ..... Esme
Roy Wesney ..... Grandpa
Kathleen-Elizabeth Kelly ..... Grandma
Jay Saussey ..... Griffin's girlfriend
Charles Walker ..... Old Chrissie
Desmond Kelly ..... Smithy

Synopsis:

This Australian fantasy stars Hamish McFarlane as a young 14th Century boy with acute psychic powers. During the period of the Black Death, Hamish believes that he can rescue his fellow villagers by leading them into an abandoned mine. The fugitives tunnel their way through the darkness and emerge on the other side - into a bustling New Zealand metropolis in the year 1988. The phenomenon is seen from the point of view of the 'aliens,' to whom every modern convenience and invention is a miracle comparable to the Resurrection. The Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey successfully creates and sustains its own logic, framing the story in the linear form of an ancient legend, and never treating the bedazzled time-travellers in a condescending manner.

During the Black Death of 14th century England, people in a remote Cumbrian mountain village listen with fear to tales of the gruesome plague that has engulfed the world. In an attempt to stave off the infection, they rely upon the visions of a boy, named Griffin, who has a reputation for having a kind of 'second sight'. With the backing of the village's most famous adventurer, a man named Connor, whom Griffin idolizes, a group of the townsfolk travel to a nearby cavern. Bringing good copper ore to be melted and cast into shape, they dig down into the earth, all the while racing against time and the coming of the next full moon, in an effort to place a holy cross on the steeple of 'the biggest Church in all of Christendom' as an offering for God's protection.
As the full moon is rising, the villagers break though into a smooth-lined tunnel, and then, finding a ladder, climb up and into what the modern audience knows is late twentieth century New Zealand. Up until this point, the movie has been shown in black and white (with some very brief moments of color as accents for Griffin's visions). Now the adventure continues in colour film. The villagers marvel at the various technologies, never questioning what year it might be, believing that such things are only natural in great cities. But Griffin is haunted by a dark vision as the villagers come closer to fulfilling their quest.

A young boy in 14th century Cumbria (north of England) keeps getting visions he cannot explain. His village has so far been spared from the black death, but the villagers fear its imminent arrival. With the boy as their guide, a group set out to dig a hole to the other side of the world, so as to fulfil the visions and save the village. At the 'other side' is 20th century New Zealand!

This product was added to our catalog on Friday 06 July, 2012.