Nightwatching
Encyclopedia
Nightwatching is a 2007 film about the artist Rembrandt and the creation of his painting The Night Watch
. The film is directed by Peter Greenaway
and stars Martin Freeman
as Rembrandt, with Eva Birthistle
as his wife Saskia van Uylenburg
, Jodhi May
as his lover Geertje Dircx
, and Emily Holmes
as his other lover Hendrickje Stoffels
. Reinier van Brummelen is the director of photography. James Willcock
, known for his esoteric sets, is the art director
.
The film is described by co-producer Jean Labadie as "a return to the Greenaway of The Draughtsman's Contract
." It features Greenaway's trademark neoclassical
composition
s and graphic sexuality. The music is by Włodek Pawlik. The film premiered in competition, at the Venice Film Festival
.
Nightwatching is the first feature in Greenaway's film series "Dutch Masters". The following film in the series is Goltzius and the Pelican Company
.
An associated work by the same director is the documentary film Rembrandt's J'Accuse
(2008), in which Greenaway addresses 34 "mysteries" associated with the painting, illustrated by scenes from the drama.
, Rembrandt's most famous work, depicting civilian militia
men who wanted to be celebrated in a group portrait. The film posits a conspiracy
to murder within the musketeer
regiment of Frans Banning Cocq
and Willem van Ruytenburch, and suggests that Rembrandt may have immortalized a conspiracy theory
using subtle allegory
in his group portrait of the regiment, subverting
what was to have been a highly prestigious commission for both painter and subject.
The film also depicts Rembrandt's personal life, and suggests he suffered serious consequences in later life as a result of the accusation contained in his most famous painting.
Night Watch (painting)
Night Watch or The Night Watch or The Shooting Company of Frans Banning Cocq is the common name of one of the most famous works by Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn....
. The film is directed by Peter Greenaway
Peter Greenaway
Peter Greenaway, CBE is a British film director. His films are noted for the distinct influence of Renaissance and Baroque painting, and Flemish painting in particular...
and stars Martin Freeman
Martin Freeman
Martin John C. Freeman is an English actor. He is known for his roles as John in Love Actually, Tim Canterbury in the BBC's Golden Globe-winning comedy The Office, Arthur Dent in the film adaptation of Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Dr. John Watson in Sherlock and Mr. Madden...
as Rembrandt, with Eva Birthistle
Eva Birthistle
Eva Birthistle is an Irish actress, best known for her role in Ae Fond Kiss. She won the London Film Critics Circle British Actress of the Year award in 2004 and has twice won the IFTA Best Actress in a Leading Role award.-Biography:...
as his wife Saskia van Uylenburg
Saskia van Uylenburg
Saskia van Uylenburgh was the daughter of a Frisian mayor. She did not marry an academic, but became the wife of painter Rembrandt van Rijn, who was the son of a wealthy miller from Leiden...
, Jodhi May
Jodhi May
Jodhi May is an English actress.-Early life:Born in Camden Town, London, May first acted at the age of 12 in 1988's A World Apart. The role earned her a Best Actress award at the 1988 Cannes Film Festival, shared with her co-stars Barbara Hershey and Linda Mvusi...
as his lover Geertje Dircx
Geertje Dircx
Geertje Dircx was hired by Rembrandt van Rijn as a wetnurse to the painter's son Titus and also became Rembrandt's model and lover. Rembrandt furthered her being imprisoned after she had charged him with breach of promise.-In Rembrandt's service:Geertje was born in Edam. Between 1630 and 1640,...
, and Emily Holmes
Emily Holmes
Emily Holmes is a Canadian television and film actress.Holmes was born in Ottawa, Ontario. She has appeared in such television series as Night Visions, Mysterious Ways, The Dead Zone , Stargate SG-1, Dark Angel and more. In 2002, Holmes appeared in Steven Spielberg's Taken as Julie Crawford...
as his other lover Hendrickje Stoffels
Hendrickje Stoffels
Hendrickje Stoffels was a model and mistress of Rembrandt.-Youth:Hendrickje was born in the garrison city of Bredevoort, Gelderland, the daughter of sergeant Stoffel Stoffelse and Mechteld Lamberts...
. Reinier van Brummelen is the director of photography. James Willcock
James Willcock
James Willcock is a Canadian set decorator and production designer. He won the Genie Award for Best Achievement in Art Direction/Production Design for Fido with Rob Gray.- Recognition :...
, known for his esoteric sets, is the art director
Art director
The art director is a person who supervise the creative process of a design.The term 'art director' is a blanket title for a variety of similar job functions in advertising, publishing, film and television, the Internet, and video games....
.
The film is described by co-producer Jean Labadie as "a return to the Greenaway of The Draughtsman's Contract
The Draughtsman's Contract
The Draughtsman's Contract is a 1982 British film written and directed by Peter Greenaway – his first conventional feature film . Originally produced for Channel 4 the film is a form of murder mystery, set in 1694...
." It features Greenaway's trademark neoclassical
Neoclassicism
Neoclassicism is the name given to Western movements in the decorative and visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture that draw inspiration from the "classical" art and culture of Ancient Greece or Ancient Rome...
composition
Composition (visual arts)
In the visual arts – in particular painting, graphic design, photography and sculpture – composition is the placement or arrangement of visual elements or ingredients in a work of art or a photograph, as distinct from the subject of a work...
s and graphic sexuality. The music is by Włodek Pawlik. The film premiered in competition, at the Venice Film Festival
Venice Film Festival
The Venice International Film Festival is the oldest international film festival in the world. Founded by Count Giuseppe Volpi in 1932 as the "Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica", the festival has since taken place every year in late August or early September on the island of the...
.
Nightwatching is the first feature in Greenaway's film series "Dutch Masters". The following film in the series is Goltzius and the Pelican Company
Goltzius and the Pelican Company
Goltzius and the Pelican Company is an upcoming film about Hendrik Goltzius, a late 16th century Dutch printer and engraver of erotic prints. He seduces the Margrave of Alsace into paying for a printing press to make and publish illustrated books. Goltzius promises him an extraordinary book of...
.
An associated work by the same director is the documentary film Rembrandt's J'Accuse
Rembrandt's J'Accuse
Rembrandt's J'Accuse is a 2008 Dutch, German, Finnish documentary directed by Peter Greenaway about criticism of today's visual illiteracy argued by means of a forensic search of Rembrandt's Night Watch painting. Greenaway explains the conspiracy about a murder and the motives of all its characters...
(2008), in which Greenaway addresses 34 "mysteries" associated with the painting, illustrated by scenes from the drama.
Synopsis
The film is centred on the creation of The Night WatchNight Watch (painting)
Night Watch or The Night Watch or The Shooting Company of Frans Banning Cocq is the common name of one of the most famous works by Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn....
, Rembrandt's most famous work, depicting civilian militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
men who wanted to be celebrated in a group portrait. The film posits a conspiracy
Cabal
A cabal is a group of people united in some close design together, usually to promote their private views and/or interests in a church, state, or other community, often by intrigue...
to murder within the musketeer
Musketeer
A musketeer was an early modern type of infantry soldier equipped with a musket. Musketeers were an important part of early modern armies, particularly in Europe. They sometimes could fight on horseback, like a dragoon or a cavalryman...
regiment of Frans Banning Cocq
Frans Banning Cocq
Knight Frans Banning Cocq was a burgemeester of Amsterdam in the mid-17th century. He is best known as the central figure in Rembrandt's masterpiece The Night Watch....
and Willem van Ruytenburch, and suggests that Rembrandt may have immortalized a conspiracy theory
Conspiracy theory
A conspiracy theory explains an event as being the result of an alleged plot by a covert group or organization or, more broadly, the idea that important political, social or economic events are the products of secret plots that are largely unknown to the general public.-Usage:The term "conspiracy...
using subtle allegory
Allegory
Allegory is a demonstrative form of representation explaining meaning other than the words that are spoken. Allegory communicates its message by means of symbolic figures, actions or symbolic representation...
in his group portrait of the regiment, subverting
Subversion (politics)
Subversion refers to an attempt to transform the established social order, its structures of power, authority, and hierarchy; examples of such structures include the State. In this context, a "subversive" is sometimes called a "traitor" with respect to the government in-power. A subversive is...
what was to have been a highly prestigious commission for both painter and subject.
The film also depicts Rembrandt's personal life, and suggests he suffered serious consequences in later life as a result of the accusation contained in his most famous painting.