The Mill and the Cross

The Mill and the Cross

A cinematic recreation of Bruegel’s 1564 The Way to Calvary

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Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on December 2011

If you judge a film by how well a director realizes his or her vision, this gets top marks. It’s nothing less than a cinematic recreation of Pieter Bruegel the Elder’s 1564 The Way to Calvary, a massive painting containing over 500 people depicting Flemish life in the 16th century. It’s a mesmerizing, multi-layered blend of art and special effects. You enter this painting. BUT. This art installation actually belongs in a museum and is one of those films that are easier to admire than to enjoy. And unless you at least minored in art history, it’s also about as entertaining as watching a painting dry.