The Name of the Rose (1986) – Film Review

Director: Jean-Jacques Annaud
Cast: Sean Connery, Christian Slater, Helmut Qualtinger
Certificate: 18

By Sarah Morgan

Sean Connery was, of course, a massive star, but not one who was willing to rest on his laurels.

He could easily have played James Bond forever, earning millions in the process, and never really pushing himself out of his comfort zone.

However, that simply wasn’t Connery’s style. And that’s why, in the mid-1980s, he grabbed the opportunity to play a Franciscan monk in The Name of the Rose, a medieval murder-mystery adapted from Umberto Eco’s bestselling and hugely acclaimed novel of the same name.

“Crossed paths”

The story takes place in 1327 and begins as Connery’s friar William of Baskerville who, along with his young novice Adso (Christian Slater), arrives at a remote Italian abbey where he’s due to take part in a theological debate. But the duo’s visit coincides with the bizarre deaths of a number of the residents.

As fear and superstition (some monks claim the suspected murders are the work of the devil) takes hold of his fellow brothers, William uses his superior intellect and powers of deduction to figure out who is responsible.

Meanwhile, the terrifying, blood-and-thunder inquisitor Bernard Gui (F Murray Abraham), with whom William has crossed paths before, turns up to launch his own investigation, leaving William facing a race against time to ensure that justice is done, and that innocent people are not burned at the stake.

“Reputation has grown”

Adapting Eco’s tale for the screen will have been far from easy; although the text is accessible, it’s a complex plot told in different languages. That perhaps explains why four screenwriters receive credit; revered French director Jean-Jacques Annaud does an excellent job of creating tension and excitement too – a plot involving monks might not sound exciting on paper, but Annaud gives it the pace of a contemporary thriller, which should help it attract (and keep) viewer attention.

Surprisingly, The Name of the Rose only received mixed reviews on its cinematic release in 1986, although Connery won a Bafta for his performance. In the years since, its reputation has grown, and alongside the leading man, Slater, Abraham and co-stars Ron Perlman and Michael Lonsdale, have also deservedly received praise.

The new 4K UHD release looks spectacular, like a Caspar David Friedrich painting brought to life, and is augmented by a number of special features including in-depth interviews with Annaud, main screenwriter Andrew Berkin, Slater and Perlman. However, the film doesn’t need anything to boost interest in it – it’s a masterpiece in its own right.

Sarah Morgan( Writer )

Sarah Morgan studied film journalism at post-graduate level with the BFI and has been writing about TV and film for PA Media’s newspaper, magazine and new media customers since 1996. She’s also written for a wide range of other publications, both online and in print, including the book Offbeat and Intermission magazine, and is a regular contributor to the Talking Pictures TV podcast. When she isn’t watching movies, she’s collecting and reading vintage crime and horror paperback books or, for her sins, watching her beloved Sheffield Wednesday.

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