Pharaoh

An epic production, including battle scenes featuring thousands and refined choreography, Pharaoh focuses on the young Egyptian ruler, Ramses XIII. With his young passions, love and idealism, he has to face the cold pragmatism of dealing with the country’'s external enemies and internal struggles. His position reduced to but a figurehead, Ramses fights to regain power, ultimately falling to absolute control of knowledge by his priests. Riddled with psychological, moral, and philosophical questions on the nature of power, Pharaoh forgoes large battle scenes and romantic kisses in favor of a deeply meaningful artistic creation. Unfortunately, the German releasing firm that acquired the distribution rights to Pharaoh shortened the film for international release and then went bankrupt when there was little interest in the truncated version. Now restored to its original form, Pharaoh brandishes its heroism as a weapon — teaching all that noble defeat is better than silence in the face of morally corrupt politics.

Accolades

1967 Academy Awards®, USA – Oscar® – nomination. 1966 Cannes Film Festival – Palme d’Or – nomination.

Cast & Crew

Directed by Jerzy Kawalerowicz. Written by Jerzy Kawalerowicz and Tadeusz Konwicki, based on the novel by Bolesław Prus. Cine- matography by Jerzy Wójcik. Production design: Jerzy Skrzepiński. Music by Adam Walaciński. Film editing by Wiesława Otocka. Production management: Ludwik Hager. © Studio Filmowe Kadr. Cast: Jerzy Zelnik (Ramses XIII/ Lycon), Wiesława Mazurkiewicz (Nikotris – Ramses XIII’s Mother), Barbara Bryslska (Kama – Priestess), Krystyna Mikolajewska (Sarah), Ewa Krzyżewska (Hebron), Piotr Pawłows- ki (Herhor), Leszek Herdegen (Pentuer).