Medieval business: “Goltzius and the Pelican Company” [2012 UK, Netherlands]

After Nigtwatching, Peter Greenaway pays his next homage to Dutch masters with “Goltzius and the Pelican Company” – a semi-biographical account from the life of sixteenth century engraver-printmaker Hendrik Goltzius, recalled ten years after his business trip to Italy with employees and their spouses. At the time, he was seeking funds to expand his Pelican Company using new material and equipment.

Goltzius (Ramsey Nasr) appraises the local Margrave (F. Murray Abraham) of his business plans, and persuades him to invest in his company which will go on to publish exclusive illustrated copies of biblical tales that focused ‘on the sensual’. The powerful Margrave (military governor of a region) – a self-professed libertarian who espouses free-speech, and famous for holding court in the library whilst taking a shit at the same time, replies that he would be interested if some conditions are met. One of his demands is to be entertained by Goltzius and company for six nights, with material that touches on sexual taboos from the Old Testament. They strike a deal.

Goltzius and his company re-enact six taboo topics; the original sin (Adam and Eve), incest (between Lot and his two daughters after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah), adultery (David and Bathsheba), paedophilia (Joseph and Pharaoh Potiphar’s wife), treachery (Samson and Delilah), and necrophilia (John the Baptist and Salomé, unwittingly taken from the New Testament). Not only do the graphic nature of their performances cause uproar among religious representatives in Margrave’s palace, they’ll also expose Margrave’s own hypocrisy when it comes to free speech. Some company members get caged, while some suffer an even worse fate. Having to contend with the Margrave’s short fuse and his lecherous advances on the company women, Goltzius will have to work hard to keep his wits about him – crucial, if he is to leave the palace alive, let alone obtain any of the promised funds…

The film has all the hallmarks of a typical Peter Greenaway – both in content and style, and contain enough references to his earlier work that’ll keep fans busy making connections. It pushes the envelope on taste without sacrificing creative vision, and even when there are moments when it could so easily have descended into sensationalism, it pulls back from the brink. But this is also one of his more light-hearted films, playful even, in appraising the industriousness of Hendrik Goltzius with a dash of Dutch humour. Even the wicked Margrave is funny when he isn’t killing or ordering someone arrested.

The screenplay is straightforward for those used to Greenaway’s films, but even otherwise, things will fall into place eventually – all one needs is patience. One of the more stylised sections of the film is the enactment of Genesis (Adam and Eve) using body-painted performers, and words-in-type floating across the screen. The different visual treatment separates it from the rest of the film, and stands out for no discernible reason. The international cast – well known within their respective shores, add to the exoticism of the period portrayed.

The set design and wide camera angles evoke the sense of watching a stage play on screen – the film was shot mostly inside what appears to be a disused shipyard. But there is also great detail where it’s needed – the costumes are sumptuous and authentic, and the cinematography has all the lushness associated with Greenaway’s films. I might not have been particularly bowled over by the sound design, but the film is nevertheless put together with great care under the British auteur’s watch. It is Recommended Viewing, and for users of this site in particular, Highly Recommended Viewing..!

The Nudity: Anne Louise Hassing, Kate Moran, Halina Reijn, Maaike Neuville, Flavio Parenti, Lars Eidinger, Giulio Berruti, and others
There’s often been nudity in Peter Greenaway’s films, but never as extensively as in this film. Sex scenes are relatively rare for Greenaway, and even when there is, it is often shown before or after sex, but the sex scene here is almost explicit. However, there are four outstanding scenes for which this film will become a ‘nude-scene classic’.

With regard to the actors’ partial or complete lack of pubic hair, one can only speculate on the reasons – well, here’s mine; it’s either to reduce any pornographic appeal by making the actors’ genitals appear less conspicuous, or it is to remain faithful to paintings and engravings from the period, which generally don’t feature pubic hair.

Halina Reijn plays the wife of her printer-husband Lars Eidinger, in Peter Greenaway’s
“Goltzius and the Pelican Company”.

Whatever the case, it must have been uncharted territory for at least some of the actors, but good on them – they manage to pull their scenes off without any noticeable fuss.

Kate Moran and Giulio Berruti play lovers in Peter Greenaway’s “Goltzius and the Pelican Company”.
Ms. Moran is excellent (and brave) during a nude performance in her Dance of the Seven Veils.

Lars Eidinger must have been totally at ease with his nudity for him to brandish an impressive erection, and maintain it for a good part of a scene.

Lars Eidinger impresses Maaike Neuville (and the audience) with his manhood during a graphic sex scene from Peter Greenaway’s “Goltzius and the Pelican Company”.

Anne Louise Hassing struts on stage in front of an audience wearing nothing but a collar while delivering her comedy – and I can’t think of any film actress – past or present – who could possibly pull it off with as much panache. Simply spectacular..!

Anne Louise Hassing gives an unforgettable and spectacular performance in the nude as Potiphar’s wife seducing a young Joseph, and in another scene appears nude alongside Flavio Parenti in Peter Greenaway’s “Goltzius and the Pelican Company”.

.

Note: This beast of a ‘nude scene’ classic should ideally require four posts – it is also my reason for re-editing and splitting them into four separate compilations. However, I’ve zipped them back together because I want all the links to stay alive for as long as possible. Some of the scenes featured have been deliberately cut-short, but I’m sure all the best bits have made their way in. I haven’t included some upskirts from Anne Louise Hassing – tantalisingly naked underneath her Egyptian robe which she’ll soon remove. There is a male rape scene that’s also not included, and I’ve considerably shortened the Adam and Eve segment because it goes on for a bit.

Compilation 1: Anne Louise Hassing, Flavio Parenti, and Kate Moran
Made from four taboo-enactments, all featuring the incomparable Anne Louise Hassing in her mid forties – first it’s Adam and Eve (Adam is Flavio Parenti), followed by Lot, who is shown as almost being raped by his two daughters (the other daughter is played by Kate Moran) – all in the name of restarting the dynasty! The third scene is to do with Samson and Delilah (the guy forced to play Samson is a Rabbi being punished by the Margrave!). The fourth is the main scene which will soon pass into cinema legend. It is also very funny – the guy who’d volunteered to play teenage Joseph is Joaquim, the Margrave’s cottonwoolled brother. Ms. Hassing though, is sensational..!

Anne Louise Hassing, Flavio Parenti, and Kate Moran in “Goltzius and the Pelican Company”.

.

Compilation 2: Halina Reijn and Lars Eidinger
You wouldn’t expect Dutch actress Halina Reijn to go full-frontal with a shaved vagina, but she does, and I suspect she also ended up showing more than she’d intended to. Her character, Portia, is already married to printer Quadfrey (Lars Eidinger), but she desperately wants to have a baby that Quadfrey had so far been unable to oblige with. In the first scene she prepositions his colleague to have sex with her, but since he’s only interested in black women, well – you can follow the rest.  Goltzius persuades Quadfrey into having sex in public with wife Portia, enacting King David’s seduction of a married Bathsheba. The scene is funny but will also appeal more to gay viewers. Quadfrey convinces Portia, and the final scene is part of their re-enactment.

Halina Reijn and Lars Eidinger in Goltzius and the Pelican Company.

.

Compilation 3: Lisette Malidor, Maaike Neuville, Lars Eidinger, Giulio Berruti, and others
Made up of three scenes – the first is between the Margrave and his ‘wet nurse’ Ebola (Lisette Malidor), who is the actual brain behind his throne.  The second is the sexiest scene in the film. After watching Quadfrey play David, an already pregnant wife of the Margrave, Isadora (Maaike Neuville), takes a shine to him and he obliges by letting his penis hang out (or stand erect as will soon be the case – you can even watch his penis ‘grow’ as he fingers Isadora – they don’t often capture these moments on camera, which probably means he could be doing it for real, or he actually fancies Maaike, or both) . They’re watched and warned of approaching danger by a caged and naked Boethius (Giulio Berruti) from above. I think there was contact between Ms. Neuville and Eidinger’s penis in the ribbon scene. But more telling are the frequent ‘interested’ glances thrown by her at his growing manhood – precious details captured once again..! 🙂

Lisette Malidor, Maaike Neuville, Lars Eidinger, Giulio Berruti, and others impressively nude in Peter Greenaway’s “Goltzius and the Pelican Company”.

.

Compilation 4: Kate Moran and Giulio Berruti
Adaela (Kate Moran) and Boethius (Giulio Berruti) are lovers. The Margrave starts fancying her after watching her bathe. Adaela persuades Goltzius into enacting the story of Salomé from the New Testament, and also invites the Margrave to play King Herod, to which he readily accepts. She hopes to seduce him into freeing Boethius. Ms. Moran’s performance is surprisingly brave and athletic during her dance, and honestly not the way I’d imagined Salomé’s dance to be – it is supposed to end shortly after the final veil comes off, but here she keeps dancing in the nude for considerably longer.

I’d actually been preparing a special tribute compilation of Salomé and her ‘Dance of the seven veils’ from different film makers over the years, because it’ll make for an interesting and meaningful tribute and discussion in the site. I already own five different versions including Ken Russell’s (Salome’s Last Dance) – the one I’m also still undecided on using. But rest assured, I will be including snippets from Greenaway’s version.

Kate Moran performs an uninhibited dance in the nude during her Salomé dance, as she tries to save her lover Giulio Berruti in Peter Greenaway’s “Goltzius and the Pelican Company”.

Download Links for ALL Compilations:
Mirror 1:
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7

Mirror 2:
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7
(All parts required – unpack with Winrar – mirrors interchangeable)

.