The story of fifteenth-century Czech icon and warlord Jan Zizka, who defeated armies of the Teutonic Order and the Holy Roman Empire.
“Medieval” features a predominantly male cast led by one of the best actors to embody physical anguish and rage, Ben Foster. Time and time again, Foster has delivered exceptional performances in every role with notable turns in “Alpha Dog,” “3:10 to Yuma,” “The Messenger,” “Hell or High Water,” and “Leave No Trace.” The rest of the cast features Michael Caine (who also narrates), Matthew Goode (fantastic as a scheming noble), Til Schweiger, Karl Roden, and Roland Møller. For reasons unknown, this was the most expensive Czech-produced film shelved after principal photography wrapped back in 2018.
“Medieval” begins in 1402 AD; Charles IV, the King of Bohemia and ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, is long dead, but his empty throne has created a power vacuum causing turmoil across Europe. His son Wenceslaus IV (Karel Roden) now rules the Kingdom of Bohemia, battling various noble houses and vying for his father’s other lands, some of which were gifted to his half-brother Sigismund (Matthew Goode). Due to various political issues, mainly a Papal schism between the rival of two Popes, one in France and the other in Italy, Wenceslaus’ ambitions are further complicated. The film covers a lot of political backgrounds and historical figures in its brief running time, but ultimately Jan Žižka (Ben Foster), a legendary Czech warrior, is the focus. To this day, Jan is still revered in his native country and by historians of military strategies for his innovations and inventions on the battlefield.
Jan is introduced rescuing the nobleman Lord Boresh (Michael Caine) by taking on a horde of enemies in combat, and it’s a thrilling sight. Jan and his fellow warriors, wearing very little armor, shove the heavily-armored cavalry off a cliff into the river below. In an acrobatic maneuver, Jan and his crew dive in after the drowning foes, stabbing them for good measure. When the dust settles, Boresh chastises Jan for arriving late and commands Jan to kidnap Lord Rosenberg’s (Til Schweiger) wife, Lady Catherine (Sophie Lowe). Lady Catherine is the daughter of a powerful nobleman, and Boresh wants to use her to gain leverage in the chaotic political environment.
One of “Medieval’s” weakest aspects is Jan being haunted by memories from his past. Not only is this a generic trope that is as beaten to death as a horse from the Middle Ages, but it also slows down the story. Foster does not try to do a Czech accent, and it was a solid choice to use his natural voice. His weapons are pretty cool, the best being his giant serrated sword.
After Jan kidnaps Catherine, a more significant conflict is formed, forcing him to go on the run. Subsequently, the hulking mercenary Torak (Roland Møller) is hired to capture or kill Jan. This is when “Medieval” displays Jan’s ingenuity, where he invented the first armored wagon preceding the modern tank by nearly 500 Years.
Writer/Director Petr Jákl acted in some action films, and his background working in the genre certainly paid off. Unlike many of his cinema contemporaries, Jákl knows where to put the camera and maintains a clear sense of space during combat scenes. Alongside cinematographer Jesper Tøffner (“The Hunt”), the pair capture the Middle Ages with a series of aerial angles soaring over the characters. On the ground, they portray the world with a tactile sensibility. It is incredible how many directors, especially those working with big budgets, fail to convey this in a decipherable manner. But ending on Jan’s bandit brawling days, instead of his grander future military conquests leading the Hussites, recalls the film “Mongol” with Tadanobu Asano. Just like “Mongol,” “Medieval” deserves a sequel or trilogy to tell the rest of these figures’ extraordinary stories. Most importantly, this movie is Medieval in every sense of the word, with plenty of brutal killings, maggots treating wounds, and the scourge of the Black Death. And as the heaps of information and history provided throughout the screenplay would have been better suited in a miniseries or a longer running time, “Medieval” is badass and rousing.
In Theaters Friday, September 9th
