Il faraone

It is a tale about power and politics and it is close to the Greek tragedy where there is no right choice. It is about Religion and about State - but there are no references to the history of Poland and the particular relation of Catholic Church and the Polish State. Please do not force it into a shape that it does not fit at all.

And by the way the characterization of the priests as corrupt is a misunderstanding - this is only how the immature and rather shortsighted main character sees them.

I have seen that film many times, since it is replayed quite often by the public TV here, I loved it's style since the first time - but I regarded it as a rather boring. It's only recently that I've found interest in it's main subject and that changed my attitude.

The first time I have seen the movie Pharaon directed by Kawalerovicz I was just a teenager. The movie have punched me like only a few things during my teenage years (some other movies,rock'n'roll songs,girls...). I really didn't remember why I was so fascinated with the movie but I have memory that movie have "something". Therefore it was the movie I have always wanted to see again. Some 30 years later finally I have a chance to see it again. Restored version. Still impressive after all this years. Excellent camera. True colours. Ancient Egypt as I have always imagined. Fine balanced rythm. Easy moving plot, enough mysterious to keep our attention. Everlasting story. Pure masterpiece, giving everyone different experience. Message? Like every piece of art, 1000 people will see it from 1000 different points of view. One have to keep in mind that movie have been made by polish filmmaker in the middle 60's, not necessary oponent of the polish establishment at the time, author who maybe have a certain standpoint to non-secular matters. Specially keeping in mind his previous movie Joanne mother of angels. The movie is simply nice. Must see.

This is the kind of movies which impression lasts more than you may expect. That is because FARAON throws fundamental questions about power, religion and a not so usual element in the movies, economy. And from a very realistic approach, surrounded by intrigues and superstition. That was, probably, the world in Ancient Egypt.

The cinematography goes flawless, with powerful visuals, and slow pace. Performance conveys audience to states of anguish, uncertainty, fear, rage, and often sensuality, with a perfect theatrical top class acting, and economy of means.

Only the music from Adam Walacinski lags a bit behind, and would benefit from some more ambition.

A classic from 1966 which track no other movie has followed.

Interesting movie. Beautiful costumes and sites. The costumes look very much original. Should be longer: 6 to 12 hours. Worth having it in your own DVD library, if you like history movies. This particular edition has only English dubbed version; I wish that it had the original Polish version as well.

This film is a lovingly rendered meditation on the dissolution of an ancient dynasty. The slow and stately pace matches centuries of the oppressive weight of ossified tradition bearing down on a dying culture, symbolized by the dead stone colossi and gargantuan architecture. There are moments of great beauty realized in its passing, such as the lovely sequence of fowling from a punt in the marshes, and the opening scene of divination on the battlefield by means of observing the movements of the sacred scarab dung beetles. Without a doubt, the most convincing depiction of those fascinating past people to date on the screen