An investigation into the heart of the Middle Ages
The name of the rose takes us to an isolated Benedictine abbey in the Italian Alps in 1327, where a series of mysterious deaths troubles the community of monks. William of Baskerville (Sean Connery), a Franciscan monk and former inquisitorhe arrives with his young novice, Adso (Christian Slater), to attend a theological conference. Very quickly, he is responsible for investigating these suspicious deaths. Armed with his logical mind and his scientific knowledge, Guillaume tries to discover the secrets of the abbey, where superstition and power intrigues mix.
The labyrinthine abbey library, the heart of the plot, symbolizes power, but also the danger of knowledge. Reconstituting this cloistered universe, The name of the rose proposes a questioning of the control of ideas and the limits of faith.
A challenging shot at the service of authenticity
To capture the dark and mysterious atmosphere of the abbey, Jean-Jacques Annaud chose to shoot most of the scenes in Kloster Eberbach, a former Cistercian monastery in Germany. This place full of history, with its stone vaults and long austere corridors, gave a particularly realistic dimension to the film.
However, this choice also posed challenges for the crew and actors, as did the temperatures in the old buildings often freezing. The cold and humidity, combined with the darkness of the sets, created a difficult atmosphere for the actors, but also strengthened their immersion in the time and characters.
Sean Connery, who plays William of Baskerville, also had to adapt to the constraints of this authentic but uncomfortable environment. Extreme weather conditions often affected the actors’ performances, forcing them to take on their roles in circumstances similar to those experienced by their characters.
Sean Connery, who initially created the spark doubts with the producers because of his image associated with James Bond, he proved that he could take on this serious and humanistic role. His performance, imbued with wisdom and pragmatism, also contributed to changing the producers’ opinion on his potential for more dramatic registers.
Jean-Jacques Annaud also wanted to prepare the actors to play the monks believably. So, before filming, the team organized sessions Gregorian chants and asked the actors to familiarize themselves with monastic rituals. This careful preparation, combined with shooting conditions in a challenging environment, helped enhance the film’s authenticity, immersing viewers in a Middle Ages recreated with rarely achieved precision.
Source: Cine Serie
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