Der Name der Rose

Annaud does not present us, like most other filmmakers, with a slick medievalism, but with a dirty era, dirty and ugly people, his vision of the Middle Ages is flawless. Connery's scholarly demeanor exudes respect and wisdom, I'd go to hell and back with him. The book is supposedly much better, but those who haven't read it may not care, the film is excellent. (08.05.2003)

Fans von Umberto Eco werden wahrscheinlich die Hände über dem Film ringen - wo bleibt die Vielschichtigkeit des Meisters, wo die Vielfalt der Lesarten, die das Buch zu einem einzigartigen Werk machen? Nun, er ist im mittelalterlichen Nebel verschwunden. Annauds Der Name der Rose ist ein netter Krimi mit einer guten Atmosphäre und einer spannenden Geschichte, aber es fehlt ihm völlig an einer ausgefeilten symbolischen Ebene... aber das ist nicht schlimm. Wer rätseln will, soll zu Eco greifen, wer eine schöne Geschichte genießen will, soll zu Annaud greifen. Aber vermische sie bloß nicht, sonst beißt du dir vor Wut auf die Lippe! (31.01.2004)

I openly admit that I am damaging The Name of the Rose with a four-star rating because this film deserves five stars. However, I have read the novel and it left an indelible impression on me - it is one of my top five literary experiences and I have my own ideas about the film adaptation, although I realize they will never be fulfilled. Umberto Eco wrote a multilayered novel where the detective investigation of a series of murders is secondary. "The Name of the Rose" is actually a description of medieval thinking, a value hierarchy, and social stratification. It is like a history textbook in an enticing package. To film "The Name of the Rose" as Eco wrote it would mean bringing the film studio to bankruptcy because it would be extremely expensive and not very accessible to a wide audience. Not to mention that it would have to compete in its length with a TV series like Prison Break. Jean-Jacques Annaud is a director with a refined sense of visuals and it's simply noticeable on the screen. His portrayal of the Middle Ages is not sanitized but rather presented in a very naturalistic way - full of mud, dirt, and rawness. He managed to fill the film with fully fleshed-out, audience-friendly characters portrayed by top-notch actors. Sean Connery and Christian Slater are both good actors and perfect for their roles. The film is not so much about the plot and the final twist as it is about capturing the medieval atmosphere - and it succeeded. Overall impression: 85%. (07.12.2007)

Annaud's vision of the Middle Ages as dirty and harsh is remarkable and captivates the viewer right from the start. The portrayal of the characters is also solid – I haven't read the book, which obviously affects my objectivity. However, the brilliant first half is followed by a noticeably boring part. Although the mysteries and puzzles around the murders are revealed, I still occasionally couldn't help but feel bored. I don't have much to say about the ending and it fits the film quite well. And even though The Name of the Rose is undoubtedly a quality piece of filmmaking, one viewing is enough for me in this case. Annaud is one of the few filmmakers who shows us the Middle Ages with a maximum dose of brutality and reality, but personally, it didn't appeal to me as much as I would have expected from a director of his caliber. (15.11.2005)

Von der Vorlage, die ich in meinen Jugendjahren gelesen habe und die ich jetzt natürlich nochmal lesen möchte, habe ich mir fast nichts gemerkt. Vielleicht ist es so besser. So musste ich nämlich nicht vergleichen, was im Film anders ist und was ausgelassen wurde. Ich konnte die zwei spannende, unterhaltsame und geheimnisvolle Stunden einfach nur genießen. Der Film ist nämlich ein ausgezeichneter mittelalterlicher Krimi mit zusätzlichen Mitteilungen für eingeweihte Zuschauer*innen. Die Stimmung ist toll und die Besetzung mit Sean Connery in der Hauptrolle erstklassig. (06.11.2016)

There’s no comparison with Eco's amazing novel – if some foolish filmmaker decided to quote the famous book in all its plot levels, from the epic one embracing the detective plot and the investigation of the murders in the abbey to the philosophical one, where the characters talk at length about the basic theological issues of the time, and retain the overall structure, atmosphere and historical value of the story, the project would have to be stretched into at least a seven-part series, with each episode easily exceeding 90 minutes. Instead of that, Annaud very cleverly forged his own path through the dirty, unwelcoming and fog-shrouded abbey, highlighting the importance of the detective storyline, which was just one of many in the novel, and cleverly amplifying the significance of the character of the fanatical inquisitor Bernard Gui, who becomes the most sinister villain and poses a tangible, physical danger to the "medieval Sherlock" William of Baskerville. The narrative is gripping and the script fulfils its purpose within its stated aim: to present the audience with an image of a typical medieval abbey, to trap the villain using the intellect of the central duo, to highlight the role of love in the midst of religious fanaticism and to punish and show the monstrosity and inhumanity of the church tyrants of the time. The story retains its compactness and atmosphere, and is also favourable to the proponents of the book's premise, as it is not literal in its secondary motifs and relies precisely on the familiarity and insight of the viewer. There is no need to talk about the brilliant cinematography, capable of inducing vertigo with circular raids on the abbey or, on the contrary, claustrophobic feelings just by creeping movement inside the labyrinth, as well as about the absolutely fabulous cast, from the charismatic Connery to the truly diabolical Abraham to the delectable and funny creation of Ron Perlman... I greatly respect and admire Umberto Eco's book, but I absolutely love this film... 100% (26.09.2012)

Umberto Eco certainly wrote a great template - and I will definitely get to it one day - but this movie is also great. One would not believe that this detective story will actually be entertaining, thrilling, frightening, and on top of it all, it will have a deeper meaning in how it leans on faith and on the individual. A great genre blend that works perfectly. (10.03.2015)