Lost in Bohemia and Outremer. Eventful Year 2023
As 2023 is drawing to an end, a quick summing up. I haven't been much around here, on the blog, I admit, but it doesn't mean I stayed idle. I focued on the project I have been working on for three years now and hope to complete in 2024. Not to spill the beans, it HAS something to do with the Young King. I just do not want to reveal too much. Not yet.
Photo courtesy of Tomáš Hejlek and Zbojník
Additionally, I got myself involved in supporting the project of a young film director from the Czech Republic, who has come up with an idea to make a new version of Robin Hood. There have been numerous versions of the story retold over the years, but none of them set in Bohemia. Leos Kastner decided to do something about it. His Zbojnik (The Outlaw) takes us to his family land, where upon the death of Přemysl Otakar II at the Battle of the Marchfeld (26 August 1278), chaos ensued. Ravages of injustice and violence swept the land. A younger son of a lord took part in Lord Edward’s Crusade (the Ninth Crusade under Edward, Duke of Gascony, the future King Edward I of England) and returned home from the Outremer only to see his king fall. Ulrich of Ruppau (Oldrich z Rupova) is a fictional character who, in the course of the story, gradually became acquainted with real contemporary historical figures. Ulrich is inspired not only by the legend of Robin Hood but also by the Czech legend of the bandit called Ondráš. What I find most refreshing about the project is the fact that the director himself and other members of the crew are true medievalists determined to make as historically acurate movie as possible. Historical consultant Marijan Krumlovsky did a great job with the reconstruction of Premysl Otakar II, ''the Iron and Golden King''. The king's great helm has already become the stuff of legends.
I did interviews with the director and with the historical consultant for Susan Abernethy's The Freelance History Writer.
Interview with Marijan Krumlovský
Thank you for the invitation, Susan!
Also, together with Marijan Krumlovský we wrote an article for Medievalists.net about filming the scenes in the Holy Land, which must have been quite a challenge, but also great fun. See for yourself! Making a Medieval Movie: Crusading in a Czech quarry.
I would like to wish all Henry the Young King Blog readers a very Happy New Year! May it be a good one!
Katarzyna Ogrodnik-Fujcik
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