Nightwatching
This article needs additional citations for verification. (April 2016) |
Nightwatching | |
---|---|
Directed by | Peter Greenaway |
Written by | Peter Greenaway |
Produced by | |
Starring | Martin Freeman Emily Holmes Christopher Britton |
Cinematography | Reinier van Brummelen |
Music by | Włodek Pawlik |
Distributed by | |
Running time | 134 min. |
Countries | Canada/France/Germany/Poland Netherlands/United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Nightwatching is a 2007 film about the artist Rembrandt and the creation of his 1642 painting The Night Watch. The film is directed by Peter Greenaway and stars Martin Freeman as Rembrandt, with Eva Birthistle as his wife Saskia van Uylenburg, Jodhi May as his lover Geertje Dircx, and Emily Holmes as his other lover Hendrickje Stoffels. is the director of photography. , known for his esoteric sets, is the art director.
The film is described by co-producer as "a return to the Greenaway of The Draughtsman's Contract."[1] It features Greenaway's trademark neoclassical compositions and graphic sexuality. The music is by Włodek Pawlik. The film premiered in competition, at the Venice Film Festival.
Nightwatching is the first feature in Greenaway's film series "Dutch Masters". The following film in the series is Goltzius and the Pelican Company.[2]
An associated work by the same director is the documentary film Rembrandt's J'Accuse (2008), in which Greenaway addresses 34 "mysteries" associated with the painting, illustrated by scenes from the drama.
Plot[]
The film is centred on the creation of The Night Watch, Rembrandt's most famous work, depicting civilian militiamen who wanted to be celebrated in a group portrait. The film posits a conspiracy to murder within the musketeer regiment of Frans Banninck Cocq and Willem van Ruytenburch, and suggests that Rembrandt may have immortalized a conspiracy theory using subtle allegory in his group portrait of the regiment, subverting what was to have been a highly prestigious commission for both painter and subject.
The film also depicts Rembrandt's personal life, and suggests he suffered serious consequences in later life as a result of the accusation contained in his most famous painting.
Cast[]
- Martin Freeman as Rembrandt
- Eva Birthistle as Saskia van Uylenburg
- Jodhi May as Geertje Dircx
- Emily Holmes as Hendrickje Stoffels
- Toby Jones as Gerard Dou
- Agata Buzek as Titia Uylenburgh
- Natalie Press as Marieke
- Fiona O'Shaughnessy as Marita
- Adrian Lukis as Frans Banninck Cocq
- Michael Culkin as Herman Wormskerck
- Christopher Britton as Rombout Kemp
Gallery[]
The Night Watch by Rembrandt (1642)
References[]
External links[]
- Nightwatching at IMDb
- Rembrandt's J'Accuse...! at IMDb
- English-language films
- 2007 films
- Films directed by Peter Greenaway
- Biographical films about Rembrandt
- Films set in the 1640s
- Films set in Amsterdam
- Films set in the Dutch Golden Age
- Biographical film stubs