''Anazapta'' is a 2002 British mystery
thriller film
Thriller film, also known as suspense film or suspense thriller, is a broad film genre that evokes excitement and suspense in the audience. The suspense element found in most films' plots is particularly exploited by the filmmaker in this genre. ...
directed by Alberto Sciamma and starring
Jason Flemyng
Jason Iain Flemyng''Births, Marriages & Deaths Index of England & Wales, 1916–2005.''; at ancestry.com (born 25 September 1966) is an English actor. He is known for roles in British films such as '' Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels'' (1998 ...
,
Lena Headey
Lena Kathren Headey ( ; born 3 October 1973) is a British actress. She gained international recognition and acclaim for her portrayal of Cersei Lannister on the HBO epic fantasy drama series ''Game of Thrones'' (2011–2019), for which she re ...
,
Christopher Fairbank
Christopher Fairbank (born 4 October 1953) is an English film, stage and television actor. Career
In 2010, he appeared as a detective in '' Five Daughters'', and as Alfred "Freddie" Lennon in the biopic '' Lennon Naked''.
References
Exter ...
,
Ian McNeice
Ian McNeice (born 2 October 1950) is an English film and television actor. He found fame portraying government agent Harcourt in the 1985 television series ''Edge of Darkness'', and went on to feature in popular films such as ''The Englishman ...
,
Jeff Nuttall
Jeffrey Addison Nuttall (8 July 1933 – 4 January 2004) was an English poet, publisher, actor, painter, sculptor, jazz trumpeter, anarchist and social commentator who was a key part of the British 1960s counter-culture. He was the brother of l ...
. In the US the film was released as ''Black Plague''.
Plot
The film is set in England in 1348. While the
Hundred Years War
The Hundred Years' War (; 1337–1453) was a series of armed conflicts between the kingdoms of England and France during the Late Middle Ages. It originated from disputed claims to the French throne between the English House of Plantage ...
rages on between England and France, a detachment of soldiers returns to the estate of the beautiful English noblewoman Lady Matilda (
Lena Headey
Lena Kathren Headey ( ; born 3 October 1973) is a British actress. She gained international recognition and acclaim for her portrayal of Cersei Lannister on the HBO epic fantasy drama series ''Game of Thrones'' (2011–2019), for which she re ...
) with news that her husband, Sir Walter de Mellerby (
Jon Finch
Jon Finch (2 March 1942 – 28 December 2012) was an English stage and film actor who became well known for his Shakespearean roles. Most notably, he starred in films for directors Roman Polanski (''Macbeth'', 1971) and Alfred Hitchcock ('' F ...
), was captured and remains hostage in France.
Meanwhile, the soldiers led by her husband's nephew Nicholas (
Jason Flemyng
Jason Iain Flemyng''Births, Marriages & Deaths Index of England & Wales, 1916–2005.''; at ancestry.com (born 25 September 1966) is an English actor. He is known for roles in British films such as '' Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels'' (1998 ...
) have brought with them a prisoner, Jacques de Saint Amant (
David La Haye), the son of the one holding her husband. He can be exchanged for Sir Walter and for an additional ransom, which will save her estate from bankruptcy, as they are deeply in debt to the bishop. When Lady Matilda asks the bishop (
Ian McNeice
Ian McNeice (born 2 October 1950) is an English film and television actor. He found fame portraying government agent Harcourt in the 1985 television series ''Edge of Darkness'', and went on to feature in popular films such as ''The Englishman ...
) for time to get the ransom, he informs her that he will expect sexual favors from her if the money does not arrive.
After some time, however, the inhabitants of the manor begin to die, one by one, a mysterious and painful death. Lady Matilda starts suspecting that the prisoner, whom she has come to care for, is not the one he claims to be.
Cast
*
Lena Headey
Lena Kathren Headey ( ; born 3 October 1973) is a British actress. She gained international recognition and acclaim for her portrayal of Cersei Lannister on the HBO epic fantasy drama series ''Game of Thrones'' (2011–2019), for which she re ...
as Lady Matilda Mellerby
*
David La Haye as Jacques de Saint Amant
*
Jason Flemyng
Jason Iain Flemyng''Births, Marriages & Deaths Index of England & Wales, 1916–2005.''; at ancestry.com (born 25 September 1966) is an English actor. He is known for roles in British films such as '' Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels'' (1998 ...
as Nicholas
*
Christopher Fairbank
Christopher Fairbank (born 4 October 1953) is an English film, stage and television actor. Career
In 2010, he appeared as a detective in '' Five Daughters'', and as Alfred "Freddie" Lennon in the biopic '' Lennon Naked''.
References
Exter ...
as Steward
*
Anthony O'Donnell as Randall
*
Jeff Nuttall
Jeffrey Addison Nuttall (8 July 1933 – 4 January 2004) was an English poet, publisher, actor, painter, sculptor, jazz trumpeter, anarchist and social commentator who was a key part of the British 1960s counter-culture. He was the brother of l ...
as Priest
*
Ralph Riach
Ralph McKenzie Riach (26 January 1936 – 20 March 2022) was a Scottish actor from Elgin, Moray.
Early years
Riach was born on 26 January 1937 in Elgin, Scotland. He He was educated at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow, and he work ...
as Physician
*
Hayley Carmichael as Agnes
*
Ian McNeice
Ian McNeice (born 2 October 1950) is an English film and television actor. He found fame portraying government agent Harcourt in the 1985 television series ''Edge of Darkness'', and went on to feature in popular films such as ''The Englishman ...
as Bishop
*
Jon Finch
Jon Finch (2 March 1942 – 28 December 2012) was an English stage and film actor who became well known for his Shakespearean roles. Most notably, he starred in films for directors Roman Polanski (''Macbeth'', 1971) and Alfred Hitchcock ('' F ...
as Sir Walter de Mellerby
References
External links
*
*
*{{allmovie, 306664
2002 films
2000s thriller films
British mystery thriller films
Films set in the 14th century
2000s English-language films
Films directed by Alberto Sciamma
2000s British films