An Ancient Tale: When the Sun Was a God
Encyclopedia
An Ancient Tale: When the Sun Was a God (Polish: Stara baśń: Kiedy słońce było bogiem) is a 2003 Polish
film , directed by Jerzy Hoffman
. The film is based on an 1876 novel
, Stara baśń
, by Józef Ignacy Kraszewski
. It is also known as 'The Old Fairy Tale: When The Sun Was God.'
The film was released in the UK on July 18 2011 under the title 'Army of Valhalla.'
; at a time when each tribe worshipped its own deities. A cruel prince, Popiel
, and his scheming wife will do anything in their power to pass control of this land to their son. (According to legend, Popiel will ultimately be eaten by mice.) The commander of Popiel's army, Piastun, opposed to the crimes and intrigues that Popiel orders him to commit upon the people to guarantee the succession, turns on Popiel.
Popiel seeks revenge upon his old commander, but Piastun is rescued from death by a young hunter and warrior, Ziemowit Piastowic. Ziemowit has spent years living with the Vikings and has only recently returned to his former homeland. Ziemowit falls in love with Dziwa, lovely daughter of Wisz, a wealthy local merchant; he wishes to marry her, but Dziwa's fate is sealed by her father — she is to become a priestess in the local temple...
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
film , directed by Jerzy Hoffman
Jerzy Hoffman
Jerzy Hoffman is a Polish film director and screenwriter. He is the father of early Macintosh development team member Joanna Hoffman.-Selected filmography:*Battle of Warsaw 1920...
. The film is based on an 1876 novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
, Stara baśń
An Ancient Tale (novel)
An Ancient Tale. Novel in Polish history - historical novel by popular in 19th century Polish writer Józef Ignacy Kraszewski published in 1876 in Warsaw...
, by Józef Ignacy Kraszewski
Józef Ignacy Kraszewski
Józef Ignacy Kraszewski was a Polish writer, historian and journalist who produced more than 200 novels and 150 novellas, short stories, and art reviews He is best known for his epic series on the history of Poland, comprising twenty-nine novels in seventy-nine parts.As a novelist writing about...
. It is also known as 'The Old Fairy Tale: When The Sun Was God.'
The film was released in the UK on July 18 2011 under the title 'Army of Valhalla.'
Story
An Ancient Tale: When the Sun Was a God takes place in pre-Christian Poland, when various Slavic tribes lived in lands that would later become the nation of PolandPoland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
; at a time when each tribe worshipped its own deities. A cruel prince, Popiel
Popiel
Prince Popiel was a legendary 9th century ruler of the West Slavic tribe of Goplans and Polans, the last member of the pre-Piast dynasty, the Popielids...
, and his scheming wife will do anything in their power to pass control of this land to their son. (According to legend, Popiel will ultimately be eaten by mice.) The commander of Popiel's army, Piastun, opposed to the crimes and intrigues that Popiel orders him to commit upon the people to guarantee the succession, turns on Popiel.
Popiel seeks revenge upon his old commander, but Piastun is rescued from death by a young hunter and warrior, Ziemowit Piastowic. Ziemowit has spent years living with the Vikings and has only recently returned to his former homeland. Ziemowit falls in love with Dziwa, lovely daughter of Wisz, a wealthy local merchant; he wishes to marry her, but Dziwa's fate is sealed by her father — she is to become a priestess in the local temple...
Cast
- Bohdan StupkaBohdan StupkaBohdan Stupka is a popular Ukrainian actor. He was born in Kulykiv, which is in Lviv oblast , Ukraine.Stupka is recognized as the most famous living Ukrainian actor. He has played more than hundred roles in films and over fifty in theaters. Stupka has been awarded the title Artist of Ukraine and...
as PopielPopielPrince Popiel was a legendary 9th century ruler of the West Slavic tribe of Goplans and Polans, the last member of the pre-Piast dynasty, the Popielids... - Ryszard FilipskiRyszard FilipskiRyszard Filipski is a Polish actor. In 2003 he starred in the film An Ancient Tale: When the Sun Was a God under Jerzy Hoffman.-Awards and honours:Filipski has received numerous awards, including:...
as Wisz - Jerzy TrelaJerzy TrelaJerzy Trela is a Polish actor. In 2003 he starred in the film An Ancient Tale: When the Sun Was a God under Jerzy Hoffman.During the communist era, he was a deputy in the Sejm.-Honours and awards:...
as Wizun - Ewa WiśniewskaEwa WiśniewskaEwa Wiśniewska is a Polish actress. Her sister, Małgorzata Niemirska, is an actress.Wiśniewska was awarded the Order of Polonia Restituta, one of Poland's highest Orders, and many other Orders, including Gold Cross of Merit....
as Jarucha - Anna DymnaAnna DymnaAnna Dymna is a Polish TV, film and theatre actress. Foundress of a charity foundation Mimo Wszystko...
as Jaga - Małgorzata Foremniak as Księżna
- Maciej Kozłowski as Smerda
- Michał Żebrowski as ZiemekSiemowitSiemowit was, according to the chronicles of Gallus Anonymus, the son of Piast the Wheelwright and Rzepicha. He was considered one of the four legendary Piast princes, but is now considered as a ruler who existed as a historical person....
- Katarzyna BujakiewiczKatarzyna BujakiewiczKatarzyna Bujakiewicz is a Polish actress. In 2003 she starred in the film An Ancient Tale: When the Sun Was a God under Jerzy Hoffman.-References:...
as Mila - Daniel OlbrychskiDaniel OlbrychskiDaniel Olbrychski is a Polish actor best known for leading roles in several Andrzej Wajda movies and also known for playing the Russian defector and spymaster Vassily Orlov, alongside Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie in the movie Salt....
as Piastun - Maria NiklińskaMaria NiklińskaMaria Niklińska is a Polish actress. In 2003 she starred in the film An Ancient Tale: When the Sun Was a God under Jerzy Hoffman.-References:...
as Żywia - Andrzej PieczyńskiAndrzej PieczyńskiAndrzej Pieczyński is a Polish actor. In 2003 he starred in the film An Ancient Tale: When the Sun Was a God under Jerzy Hoffman.-References:...
as Znosek - Marina AleksandrovaMarina AleksandrovaMarina Andreevna Pupenina , known under her pseudonym Marina Aleksandrova, is a Russian actress. She is perhaps the best known for her role of Marie of Hesse and by Rhine in Poor Nastya.- Personal life :...
as Dziwa - Mariusz Drężek as Bratanek
- Marcin MroczekMarcin Mroczek- Biography :Marcin Mroczek was born on 18 July 1982 in Siedlce, Poland. He has a twin brother Rafał who is 7 minutes older. At the age of 10, Marcin joined the Modern Dance Team “Caro Dance” in Siedlce. Together with this team, he won multiple Polish and European championships...
as Leszek - Andrzej KrukowskiAndrzej KrukowskiAndrzej Krukowski is a Polish actor. In 2003 he starred in the film An Ancient Tale: When the Sun Was a God under Jerzy Hoffman.-References:...
as Ludek - Maciej Zakościelny as Wramot
- Rafał Mroczek as Zdobek
- Dariusz Juzyszyn as Jarl Sigvald
- Wiktor ZborowskiWiktor ZborowskiWiktor Zborowski is a Polish actor. He is nephew of Jan Kobuszewski. In 1973 he finished Państwowa Wyższa Szkoła Teatralna w Warszawie. He appeared in the comedy television series Bao-Bab, czyli zielono mi in 2003....
as Viking-Translator - Ryszard Ronczewski as Miłosz
- Jan Prochyra as Mirsz
- Adam Graczyk as Sambor
- Krystyna FeldmanKrystyna FeldmanKrystyna Feldman was a Polish actress.-Life and career:Born in Lemberg, Austria-Hungary to a Catholic mother, Katarzyna Sawicka-Feldman, an opera singer and a Jewish father, Ferdynand Feldman, an actor, Feldman identified with Catholicism...
as wróżka - Michał Chorosiński as Bratanek
- Jerzy Braszka as Pachołek Ziemka
See also
- List of Polish films
- List of historical drama films