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Robert Eggers is truly a genius when it comes to the world of cinema. Regardless of what genre the director picks, he seems to perfectly make them bend to his will, bringing about the perfect balance of storytelling and visual awe. WhileNosferatuis the most recent addition to his impressive filmography, there is one other project that ended up impressing more than a few critics.
In 2022, Eggers directedThe Northman,a magnificent film starring Alexander Skarsgård, Nicole Kidman, Willem Dafoe, and so many other impressive names. While the cast and the direction were certainly not an issue, it would seem that the director could have faced a very big challenge when he was making the film.
The origins of Robert Eggers’The Northman
The cast and story ofRobert Eggers’The Northmanare certainly very interesting. However, many may not know the backstory behind the film itself. It follows the story of Prince Amleth, who is faced with the death of his father, the kidnapping of his mother by his uncle, and the unveiling of his family’s secrets. If the story sounds familiar, it is because it is; however, not the way that many might think.
While the first conclusion that one might jump to is that the film is a copy of Shakespeare’sHamlet, the truth is the opposite. Amleth is a figure in a medieval Scandinavian legend and has been a very famous part of the culture for centuries. It was also the direct inspiration for Shakespeare’s story and character, with even their names being similar.
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Considering how widespread and beloved the story of Hamlet is, one can imagine that when Eggers was making his film, he had some advantages and some disadvantages.
When the inspiration outlives the original story
The tale of Amleth has almost been lost to time. As the world has become more focused on Shakespeare’s play, it seems that it has managed to rewrite the original story in a manner that few remember the original tale. With this, it is not surprising that Robert Eggers decided to adapt it.
During an interview with theLos Angeles Times, the director talked about the challenges and advantages that came with makingThe Northman.The one thing that he did not have to worry about was focusing on the specific dynamics of the story. The world knows what happened to Hamlet, and they have had centuries to process it.
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Additionally, Disney’sThe Lion Kingalso drew inspiration from the two stories, becoming yet another example of the world knowing about Amleth without ever truly knowing his name. With this in mind, Eggers could be careful about the elements that his film would elaborate on.
This is a story that everybody knows. So I can explore and dare I say indulge in Viking religion and mythology and ritual culture without losing the audience because they all know the story of ‘Hamlet’ or ‘The Lion King.’
The director mentioned that since the somewhat unique element in the original story was its roots in Viking religion and Scandinavian legend, he decided to explore that more with his film. Thankfully, his approach worked and the film ended up becoming one of the most respected works in his career.
The Northmanis available for streaming on Hulu.
Ananya Godboley
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2219
Ananya Godboley is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on TV shows, with over 2,000 articles published. She has been an entertainment journalist for the past two years. Currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in psychology from K.R. Mangalam University, Ananya also likes to fangirl as a full-time job. She covers news and analyses on anything from Rick and Morty to Hannibal and even Arcane. In between these lines, she also enjoys superheroes and Taylor Swift.A philosophy enthusiast, Ananya enjoys digging deeper into the media she consumes, trying to understand the root of her favorite characters' behavior.
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Robert EggersThe Northman
