Apteeker Melchior (2022)

Melchior the Apothecary

Directed and Co-Written by Elmo Nüganen

Running Time: 100 minutes

Introduced by:   Amari Lemmik and Elmo Nüganen 

Questions/ Answers:  Maarja Johanna Mägi, Actress 

Film Zoom Link:

Setting: The film’s setting is the  actual setting of Tallinn Medieval Old Town.   The setting for the film is the  authentic historical location The setting is not a prop., but an authentic location in the city of Talinn.. 

Based on the best-selling novels by popular author Indrek Hargla, Melchior the Apothecary is the first film of a trilogy set in medieval Tallinn following the crime solving acumen of Melchior Wakenstede.  Beginning as a straight forward murder mystery – who killed Knight Clingenstain – the film gains complexity by exposing the motives of multiple characters guilty in various degrees of greed, revenge, piety, love, power, deceit, and fear.  Melchior the Apothecary effectively recreates 15^thcentury Tallinn though exceptional costuming, set design, and lighting, winning awards for cinematography, editing, and production design. The film also demonstrates the harshness, cruelty, and superstitions of the times; a culture against which Melchior tries to practice basic detective skills such as observation, scientific understanding, and ratiocination.  A series of disparate objects (a sword, coins, a gold chain, a chess board, a book, an amulet) seem to point to a mysterious “Prisoner of Tallinn” who may be responsible for three additional murders. The film includes a number of narrative twists and false solutions to keep you guessing until the end (there is even a subplot about Melchior’s new apprentice).  The structure of the film may bring to mind another medieval detective film, Jean-Jacques Annoud’s The Name of the Rose (1986) based on Umberto Eco’s novel; both films exploring the influence, power, and leadership of Christianity and the Church.

Melchior the Apothecary was directed by esteemed stage director Elmo Nüganen who helmed the Tallinn City Theatre from 1992-2021.  His 2015 film, 1944, became Estonia’s submission for the Academy Awards that year.  He directed the other two parts of the trilogy (Melchior the Apothecary: The Ghost and Melchior the Apothecary: The Executioner’s Daughter) also in 2022 marking the first time in the Estonian film industry when an entire trilogy was released in the same year.  These films are among the most successful in Estonian cinema box office history.

Märten Metsaviir plays the title character, his first major film role after graduating from the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre in 2020.  Maarja Johanna Mägi plays the Gerke the apprentice; she also graduated from the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre in 2020.  Henessi Schmidt plays Hedwig; she might be best known for her role as Princess Gytha in the Netflix series Vikings: Valhalla.  The rest of the ensemble cast are well-known Estonian film, stage, and television actors.  

You can watch a trailer at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGrCW7ijknA

About:

AARI LEMMIK.. is with the  Embassy of the Republic of Estonia. She is Counselor for Press and Culture, Embassy of Estonia in Washington, DC

Elmo Nüganen is one of the most esteemed theatre directors and producers in Estonia.

He is an Estonian theatre director, film director, and actor. He has been the artistic Director of the Tallinn City Theatre since 1992. He was a graduate of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre in 1988 and then a professor at the academy in 1998–2002 and 2008–2012.Wikipedia

He was born in 1962 ,Jõhvi, Estonia, and Educated at:Eesti Muusika- ja Teatriakadeemia lavakunsti osakond(1984–1988)

He is married to Anne Reemann

He is known for his outstanding classical plays, and has won numerous nominations and awards including Nika Award for Best Film of CIS and Baltic States,the Pyramid Award for the best Producer and the Silver Award for the best writer.

He has two daughters, Saara Nüganen,Sonja Nüganen

His tv programs include TV shows:Vabariigi valvur