Film Review: Druids (Vercingétorix: La Legende du druide roi, 2001)

Annoying practice of same films having completely different titles in different markets can be at times explained by producers’ views on knowledge and understanding of target audiences in various territories. French producer and director Jacques Dorfmann had his 2001 historical epic distributed in North America and many countries under title Druids, probably hoping that it would be mistaken by teen cinemagoers as some sort of “cool” New Age-themed horror. In France, where target audience is supposed to be familiar with national history, it was distributed under title Vercingétorix: La Legende du druide roi (“Vercingetorix: Legend of the Druid King”), while in some other countries it was distributed under much simpler title The Gaul.

The plot is going to look quite familiar to viewers who have previously enjoyed Asterix comic books. It begins in 60 BC in Gaul, today’s France, a land inhabited by proud warriors who have, among other things, sacked Rome few centuries earlier. When the plot begins Gauls are endangered from two sides – savage Germanic tribes are threatening them from the north and east, while the old enemy Rome, which in the meantime became superpower of Classical world, is threatening from the south. All that happens while the Gauls themselves are hopelessly divided between bickering tribes and within tribes themselves. In one of such conflicts Vercingetorix (played by Christopher Lambert), has lost his father, a chief of Arverni. He is taken under the wing of druids led by Gutuart (played by Max von Sydow) and trained to become a great leader who would one day unite all Gaul tribes. Vercingetorix’s time, however, comes after another great man has arrived to Gaul – Julius Caesar (played by Klaus Maria Brandauer), ambitious Roman politician who plans to conquer rich lands of Gaul as a stepping stone for taking control over Rome itself. He does that less with formidable force of Roman legions and more with shrewd exploitation of Gauls’ disunity. But when Vercingetorix manages to unite warring tribes against common enemy, Caesar is going to experience first major setbacks in his campaign.

Although at first Druids looks like a cheap and quick attempt to exploit renewed interest for Classical period of history, caused by success of Gladiator, its subject is actually quite interesting. It is one of the more eventful episodes that had far reaching consequences for entire European history and featured character that would be centuries later embraced by the French as national hero and of country’s greatest martyrs. Producer, co-writer and director Jacques Dorfmann obviously didn’t have much problems in establishing huge budget and the Bulgarian locations are more than adequate stand-in for ancient Gaul. Dorfmann, however, completely fails as director and even the script, with famed science fiction writer Norman Spinrad as one of its authors, is total mess, with motive of druids and mysticism artificially inserted in what could have been intriguing historical tale. Even worse is obvious miscasting of Christopher Lambert who looks completely unconvincing as great Gauls’ leader under ridiculous wig. The rest of cast isn’t much better, which includes Inés Sastre in obligatory romantic subplot and even veteran Max von Sydow doesn’t show much of an effort. On the other hand, Klaus Maria Brandauer is much more interesting as protagonist’s intelligent adversary. Bulgarian actress Maria Kavardjikova puts some effort in rather thankless role of druid woman warrior. What makes this film somewhat passable is the final segment, which is much closer to historical facts and reconstructs famous Battle of Alesia in interesting way. Critics weren’t enthusiastic and Druids actually earned reputation as one of the worst films in entire history of French cinema. Although such reputation, accepted by Lambert who heavily criticised the film, isn’t completely justified, most of the viewers would be wise to spend their time on something better.

RATING: 3/10 (+)

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