Day of the Siege

Very nice disc-condition. And the movie is awesome

This is a very well-made movie. The acting is superb, the dialogue is well-written, the music does a great deal to add to the story's tension, the cinematography is well-done, and the plot is quite dramatic. I noticed that many have criticized this movie as not being accurate, claiming that Kara Mustafa never took part in the Siege of Vienna. I checked this out, and the record shows that Kara Mustafa did in fact command the Ottoman Army during the Siege of Vienna.Others have criticized this movie for being "fundamentalist Christian" propaganda. While this movie is definitely told from the perspective of Padre Marco, a very devout monk, I found that this movie is also quite nuanced, portraying Kara Mustafa as a very human man, and someone who was able to face death very courageously at the very end. Another instance of nuance is how the movie portrays the King in Vienna as a man who is chiefly interested in pursuing pleasure, rather than the things of God, or even in trying to serve the people, and who initially proves himself a coward when faced with Kara Mustafa's calls for surrender.Still others have criticized this movie because they claim the battle scenes aren't realistic enough. Granted, Hollywood probably would have made the battle scenes ultra-realistic and ultra-violent, but despite the fact that the battle scenes are clearly staged, I still found them intense enough to communicate the intensity of the Siege of Vienna in 1683.I'm glad I watched this movie, because it helped me to understand what happened during the Siege of Vienna. I really liked Padre Marco, because he was such a humble man -- he consistently refused to take credit for any of the miracles that occurred when he was present, rightly telling people that it is God who heals, and rightly telling people to pray to God for healing. I realize that the producers of this movie likely took poetic license, especially in the personal connections between Kara Mustafa, A'bul, and Padre Marco, but this poetic license, while likely not historically accurate, does greatly increase the story's dramatic arc.I found this movie so impressive that I'm still thinking about it several days after watching it. I highly recommend this movie

This movie isn't as historically driven as everyone here says. Horrible CGI, horrible green screen work. This movie was released in 2012. Come on, people were making better CGI in their garages. The acting was pretty good. F. Murray Abraham was great.If you know about East European history then yeah good for you. You don't need someone to fill in the huge blanks in this movie. This movie did a poor job of telling a smooth and comprehensible story. Even historically based movies need to TELL a story and follow a structure so that even a putz like me can understand. Or it is not a successful movie. What I mean is, even if I knew nothing about the battle and the time period, there needs to be a comprehensible story for me to follow. This movie was so broken in it's flow and story telling and rhythm that it just felt like a mash of stuff. And that is because they left too many details to the viewer to fill in.Besides all of that, this movie was more about religion than it was history anyhow. So much tripe that it just over shadows what little historical fact there is. In the beginning when the blind guy has cloudy white eyes and then all of a sudden they are clear and he can see. Or when the monk heals the woman of some sort of rotting skin disease/plague and everyone is like "oh whatever". This movie is a fluff piece for the Catholic not a historical movie. Remember, this movie took place in the 1600s. In 1616 the Catholic church arrested Galileo for claiming the EArth revolved around the sun. Well guess what.... he was right and the church called him a heretic.

This film is a masterpiece, an historical epic recounting the Ottoman Turks invasion and siege of Vienna, the gateway to the West, on September 11, 1683. This is a moment in history when Christendom and Western civilization truly hung in the balance. The stellar international cast includes F. Murray Abraham (as the Christian monk, Marco D’Aviano), Jerzy Skoliumowski (as the legendary Polish king, Jan III Sobieski), Claire Bloom (as Marco D’Aviano’s mother), and Enrico Lo Verso (as Kara Mustafa, the Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Turks). The movie is historically accurate and one wonders why this film is not listed in the filmography of F. Murray Abraham and Claire Bloom on Wikipedia. Is it because of the favorable pious and tolerant description of the Christian monk or simply because it is an Italian-Polish production and not a production by Hollywood? The battle scenes are realistic and a graphic extravaganza as one would imagine happened during the historic siege of Vienna, when the Ottoman tide was turned. And this was a momentous event. Ottoman sultans had stated that their ultimate goal was the conquest of the West and the turning of Christian churches and gothic cathedrals, including St. Peter’s in Rome, into mosques! To make this a reality they amassed a 300,000 man army against a divided Christendom. The salvation of the Christians in the fortified and besieged city of Vienna, “the golden Apple,” is the mounted Polish cavalry, the winged hussars, led by their king, Jan Sobieski — 40,000 men who turned out to be only 20,000 in number! The fluid geopolitics of the times (e.g., the politics of the Sun King, Louis XIV of France, who was not shown, in relation to the Austrian Emperor and the Turkish sultan) are accurately described.One hopes that neither the magnificent war horses or the stunt men were hurt in the bloody scenes. The movie even has its light hearted moments with Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I’s panicky mannerisms during moments of crisis. He and his court are depicted much worse than I suspect the historic Hapsburg emperor was, despite his prudent and speedy flight from Vienna. The Ottoman sultan is briefly depicted in a more imperious and statesmen-like manner, even though by this time most sultans were depraved as well as treacherous. The Christian monk, Marco D’Aviano, and his adversary, Kara Mustafa, are reverently treated. The dramatic contrast between the characters and their religions, as much as the battle scenes, are magnificently displayed in the film.This movie is highly recommended without caveats for all viewers — from history buffs for enjoyment to homeschoolers for cinematographic supplementation of their history curriculum. Rating: 5-star epic, historic movie recommended by MAF.

An excellent film about a momentous event in European history.

good movie

The largest oil painting I have ever seen (I'm guessing it could be the largest in the world?) is one you will see on a tour of the Vatican, en route to everyone's 'final destination' – the Sistine Chapel. "The Battle of Vienna -- September 11, 1683."Filling an entire high ceiling wall, the painting depicts Poland's greatest King (and army general) Jan Sobieski, as he and his comparatively small army (numbering in the tens of thousands) make final preparations – before going out to do battle against overwhelming odds – a Turkish army numbering nearly a third of a million men, outside the gates of Vienna.That auspicious date in European history --- September 11th 1683 – marked the last attempt by Islamic armies to conquer the capitols of Europe. (Rome and Paris were the next, had Vienna fallen.)---Every now and then I'm guided (if I didn't know better I'd say 'by coincidence') to find a great movie that never made it into theaters; this is such a film – a gripping, depiction (with terrific use of computer graphics) about the days leading up to the 'original 9-11' – of 333 years ago (the reason why suicide bombers picked September 11th).On that date in 1683, the conquering armies of Islam, over 300,000 strong, were met, and held, and thrown back at the gates of Vienna by a much smaller army of Catholic soldiers led by a Polish king who -- in addition to having a great battle plan (hauling artillery at night, up steep hillsides shrouded in deep woods, in order to fire his big guns, with devastating impact, from a high hilltop) led his troops first in prayer to "Jesus and his mother Mary."Not incidentally (as he would tell his people later) 'Good King Jan' brought with him from home a life-size replica of “The Black Madonna” painting (at Poland's most important shrine, Our Lady of Chestachova). And again, at the heart of this film – the battle outcome is further assured (Catholics would say) with prayers from an Italian priest and saint, Father Marco d'Aviano; he was there at the walls of Vienna reminding the Catholic soldiers of what was at stake: “Our wives, our children, and most importantly -- the future of our Faith!”It's a terrific movie that sticks to logistical facts surrounding this one, all-important day in history – so pivotal to the future of Europe. The film opens with the voice of a great narrator, speaking these few words (as a telescopic view of a full moon is shrouded in smoky darkness).“On September 11, 1683 Islam was at the peak of its expansion in the West. 300,000 Islamic troops, under the command of Kara Mustafa, were besieging the city they called 'The Golden Apple' – Vienna. The aim of Kara Mustafa was to lead his army on to Rome and transform the Basilica of St. Peter into a mosque. If all of this never came about, it's due to an Italian monk, Marco d'Aviano and a Polish King, Jan Sobieski. This is their story.”Most favorite films (and this now is one of mine!) have moments of great dialog, conveying in a few well-chosen words, what is "really “at stake here.” One such moment comes as Father Marco, works a miracle of peace, talking down a nighttime mob, carrying torches and swords, young Christian men intent on killing Father Marco's Turkish friend, Abul. While his friend remains within the safety of his home, one of his four wives, a deaf mute girl, goes to her knees before the mob and, with frantic hand gestures and wordless grunts, appeals for mercy – for her husband.Father Marco holds up a crucifix and prays; suddenly the crowd retreats, still uttering threats (“We'll be back and next time you won't have a monk to protect you! We'll get you, Turk!”)Moments later, the scene shifts to inside the candle-lit home, where Marco – speaking first to to his Turkish friend's brave young wife -- says to her: “You risked your life! You shouldn't have done that!” Then turning to his friend Fr. Marco asks, gently: “Why didn't YOU (go out and) defend yourself?”ABUL: “It is Allah who decides our destiny [which is] too big to try to avoid it.”MARCO: “You know, Abul . . . years ago when I was studying in the seminary, I thought a lot about how (pauses, measures his words) . . . how your god is so different from mine. I asked myself, 'Why does God allow so many, many people to believe in a god who is not himself?' And I realized it was so his sons could carry his light – to wherever it is needed.” After a long pause, Marco says with a warm smile, “One day Abul, you too will see the true light.”ABUL: “All lights are true, Marco.MARCO: “There is only ONE True Light, Abul . . . only one!”---Did I say that this movie opens with a quote from Marc (Benjamin) Bloch – a distinguished French historian who fought for France in both World Wars and was captured and executed by the Gestapo – 10 days after the D-Day invasion of Normandy – for working with the French resistance. The quote from Bloch, so a propos this film:“Misunderstanding of the present grows, fatally, from ignorance of the past.”

Très beau décors et assez bien joué, pas pour les plateaupithèques boboïdes de ce monde mais pour les amoureux des drames historiques.

Great movie. A must watch!