Norman's Awesome Experience
Encyclopedia
Norman's Awesome Experience is a 1989 Canadian
time-travel adventure comedy
written and directed by Paul Donovan
. Shot under the title A Switch in Time, the film was retitled to capitalize on the success of Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
(also 1989). In spite of its seeming derivative nature, Norman's Awesome Experience is notable for breaking new ground in the subgenre for a variety of artistic choices. First, the central characters are brought back in time by a freak accident in which none of them was an active participant, their presence was not known to the scientists nearby, and time-travel was not the intent of the experiment; therefore the characters are unable to return home and do not bother attempting to get back, nor do they concern themselves with the possibility of changing history. Secondly, the Paris
ian locale of the film is about to be annexed by the Roman Empire
at the time the protagonists arrive. Only those protagonists able to speak Latin
(presented with English subtitles) or accompanying those who do are able to effectively function in the society, although the Gallic people native to the area speak a primitive tongue requiring Norman to communicate in gestures. Finally, in addition to the ability to converse in Latin, Norman has a rudimentary technical understanding of many modern devices and is able to use his knowledge to actively alter history. The film ends with Norman using hot air balloon
s to defeat the Roman army to prevent the village's annexation by the Empire. This activity is photographed and makes it into a book that the photographer and his model girlfriend (neither of whom can speak Latin) are forced to help manufacture on a primitive printing press
operated by a group of galley slaves of which they are a part.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
time-travel adventure comedy
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
written and directed by Paul Donovan
Paul Donovan (writer)
Paul Donovan is a Canadian television and film writer, director and producer best known as the creator of the science-fiction TV series, LEXX. He co-founded Salter Street Films with his brother Michael Donovan....
. Shot under the title A Switch in Time, the film was retitled to capitalize on the success of Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure is a 1989 American science fiction–comedy buddy film and the first film in the Bill & Ted franchise in which two metalhead slackers travel through time to assemble a menagerie of historical figures for their high school history presentation.The film was written by...
(also 1989). In spite of its seeming derivative nature, Norman's Awesome Experience is notable for breaking new ground in the subgenre for a variety of artistic choices. First, the central characters are brought back in time by a freak accident in which none of them was an active participant, their presence was not known to the scientists nearby, and time-travel was not the intent of the experiment; therefore the characters are unable to return home and do not bother attempting to get back, nor do they concern themselves with the possibility of changing history. Secondly, the Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
ian locale of the film is about to be annexed by the Roman Empire
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
at the time the protagonists arrive. Only those protagonists able to speak Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
(presented with English subtitles) or accompanying those who do are able to effectively function in the society, although the Gallic people native to the area speak a primitive tongue requiring Norman to communicate in gestures. Finally, in addition to the ability to converse in Latin, Norman has a rudimentary technical understanding of many modern devices and is able to use his knowledge to actively alter history. The film ends with Norman using hot air balloon
Hot air balloon
The hot air balloon is the oldest successful human-carrying flight technology. It is in a class of aircraft known as balloon aircraft. On November 21, 1783, in Paris, France, the first untethered manned flight was made by Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier and François Laurent d'Arlandes in a hot air...
s to defeat the Roman army to prevent the village's annexation by the Empire. This activity is photographed and makes it into a book that the photographer and his model girlfriend (neither of whom can speak Latin) are forced to help manufacture on a primitive printing press
Printing press
A printing press is a device for applying pressure to an inked surface resting upon a print medium , thereby transferring the ink...
operated by a group of galley slaves of which they are a part.