William Tell Review: A Master Marksman Rises

The legends of great leaders who rallied people to stand up against tyranny have echoed through the ages. Stories like Braveheart and Lord of the Rings showcase brave souls who rose to defend their lands when all seemed lost. A new film now shares another such story with modern audiences—that of William Tell, the revered 14th-century Swiss folk hero.

In William Tell, director Nick Hamm sets out to bring Tell’s full saga to thrilling life. We learn how this hunting father found himself rebelling against occupying forces threatening his simple lifestyle. As the film premiered at the Toronto Film Festival, viewers discovered how Tell reluctantly took up his famous bow to champion a resistance movement against cruel overlords.

Playing Tell is Claes Bang, an actor capable of conveying quiet resilience. Opposite him is Connor Swindells’ chilling performance as the brutal Viceroy determined to break the Swiss spirit. Their clash awakens dormant power within Tell, transforming him from peaceful farmer to leader of liberation. Rich production values transport us to Tell’s world, amid soaring Alps and medieval conflicts as timely today as centuries past.

Through its showcase of Tell’s journey from reluctant rebel to inspiration figure, the film illuminates timeless themes of fighting for freedom against oppression. Now Hamm’s adaptation brings this venerable symbol back to light, inviting fresh eyes to witness his enduring stand.

Stirrings of Rebellion

The film transports us back to the early 14th century, where peaceful Switzerland found itself under the control of a foreign power. Most folks just wanted to tend their farms and keep their heads down, but tensions were on the rise.

Our introduction is to young William Tell, a skilled hunter providing for his family in the hills. Though experienced in war, he now seeks simple living away from battles. But when a desperate man comes pleading for help, William’s kind heart wins out.

This small act draws him to the attention of Austria’s ruthless viceroy, Gessler. Crushing any dissent, Gessler rules through fear and brutality. So when William crosses his path, Gessler contrives a deadly game: if Tell can strike an apple on his son’s head with an arrow, they’ll go free.

The shot succeeds against the odds, but Gessler reneges deviously. Though confined, William’s courage inspires others suffering under Austria’s yoke. Folk begin whispering of a resistance to liberate their homeland.

Among leading the stirrings is Stauffacher, rallying support from the valleys. But facing a well-armed empire calls for no easy victory. As William recruits allies, Gessler ups the brutality, cementing an evil reputation.

The stakes intensify when William’s wife Suna becomes endangered. Now both sides prepare for an inevitable clash. But can freedom be won against such overwhelming control? And at what cost will the Swiss people achieve their destiny?

The story sets a foundation where personal and political strife will collide in the epic battles yet to unfold.

Champions of Change

At the heart of any epic are the characters who drive its stirring events. In William Tell, director Hamm populates the screen with a company of captivating champions.

Foremost is Claes Bang’s conflicting titan, William Tell. A master hunter now haunted by past battles, Bang imbues Tell with a weary grace. Though desiring peace, his good soul cannot stand by when duty calls. We feel Tell’s turmoil as he reluctantly accepts what destiny demands.

None, however, relishes turmoil more than Connor Swindells’ sadistic Viceroy Gessler. Where Tell restrains his wrath, Gessler unleashes cruelty without conscience. Swindells transforms a paper villain into the delightfully loathsome nemesis around whom the story pivots. Each scheming scene he dominates with sinister glee.

Among those resisting Gessler’s terror stands Ellie Bamber’s conflicted Princess Bertha. Torn between duty and heart, Bamber brings both cunning strength and compassion to a role that transcends damsel tropes. Alongside Tell’s wife Suna, played with poise by Golshifteh Farahani, these women help drive fates rather than await them.

Ben Kingsley too lends portent as the ominous yet largely absent King, while the ensemble ensures no character escapes fully unscathed. From Stauffacher, who rallies revolt in the valleys, to Father Attinghauser providing sage council, each piece fits the chapter their part shapes.

Through such a dynamic company of kings and commoners, heroes and hellraisers, Tell rises as the legend he became—not in spite of companions but empowered by them. Together they bring to life a saga that, more than any vista, will linger with audiences long after the credits fade.

Echoes Across the Ages

To grasp William Tell fully requires understanding the turbulent times that birthed its legend. The early 14th century saw turmoil grip the continent as mighty empires grasped for dominance.

It was into this landscape that Hamm transports us, reflecting Europe’s divisions through recurring power struggles. With land and resources at stake, smaller states like Switzerland found themselves caught in the crosshairs of expansionist ambitions. Through cunning leadership and military might, the Hapsburg dynasty aimed to bend proud neighbors to their will.

The film vividly illustrates oppression’s many forms, from punitive taxes to brutal displays intended to break spirits. In such a world, nationalism took root as a defiant cry for self-rule. Faced with the prospect of losing all autonomy, resistance became inevitable for a proud people.

Through the production’s scope and detail, we’re immersed in the medieval setting until it feels a world apart. Yet Tell’s defiance against an empire’s machinery remains deeply resonant. Parallels to today’s geopolitics are impossible to miss, reminding us that humanity’s oldest problems persist through the ages.

By grounding spectacle in realpolitik, Hamm lends the story renewed weight. Tell’s saga emerges not just as a patriotic fable but as a timeless reflection on oppression and the will to overcome it. Some may see Russia’s actions in Ukraine’s plains and valleys as a latter-day echo of Tell’s defiant stand.

Legends and Life’s Lessons

Under the swords and spectacle, William Tell explores some timely themes that have resonated through eras. It analyzes how individuals relate to forces beyond their control and duties demanded by their times.

Tell grapples between destiny and free will as a simple man sucked into revolution. Though loath to fuel conflict, does resisting higher calls make one complicit in injustice? The film suggests shirking responsibility allows tyranny to flourish.

Yet it also acknowledges wars leave scars, depicting Tell as haunted by past bloodshed. Only through nonviolence can true peace come, yet total nonresistance sometimes amounts to indifference in oppression’s face. Like many epics, it presents violence as a necessary evil against crueler evils.

Family, community, and defending kin also drive the story. Tell acts to shield his son from harm, finding protectiveness and patriotism converge. By showing characters upholding vows and rallying countryfolk, the film underscores bonds, which can strengthen resolution in dark times.

These poignant notions give the tale layers beyond sole battle spectacle. But the focus on climactic clashes sometimes muddles more thoughtful ruminations on legacy, healing and higher callings.

Still, for plumbing timeless human dilemmas, William Tell succeeds in part. While its themes don’t always shine clearly, the film reminds how legends endure by reflecting life’s perennial questions and struggles across ages.

Triumphs and Stumbles of a Swiss Saga

William Tell is a film of immense highs and minor flaws. In many ways, director Hamm triumphantly brings this legendary figure to life for modern audiences.

Scope and visuals are what epics require, and here William Tell excels. Sweeping Alpine vistas carry authentic production value, while Steven Price’s score soars with the action. Cinematographer Jamie Ramsay frames each moment like a work of art.

Characters prove the soul of any story. In Claes Bang’s conflicted Tell and Connor Swindells’ wicked Gessler, complex heroes and villains drive the plot. Their dynamic performances engage us in the emotional heart of the rebellion.

Yet not all elements land with equal impact. Narrative pacing stumbles in places, and some character depths feel lightly explored. The Apple Incident opens superbly but risks losing new viewers in backstory details.

A self-importance also creeps in, imparting conversations with faux-Shakespearean flair over naturalism. While camp works elsewhere, a looser approach could better embrace the tale’s fun spirit.

Most egregious, an overly teased sequel undercuts an otherwise epic standalone story. In focusing so much on potential franchises, the conclusion distracts from these freedom fighters’ journey.

Overall, Hamm’s vision transports us to a period of revolution. For all financial success, William Tell succeeds most by making us feel invested in its characters’ struggles for liberty against the evils of their time. Its high points will remain long after any lows fade.

The Legend Lives On

William Tell set out to bring new eyes to an old legend. In many ways it succeeds, breathing fresh entertainment into a folk hero who captivated ages past.

Make no mistake, this film won’t dethrone silver screen classics. But for a modern stab at the swashbuckling epics Hollywood built its fame on, it engrosses more than expected. Ambitious production shines through its flaws.

Especially worthy are Claes Bang’s conflicted marksman and Connor Swindells’ deliciously vile viceroy. Under their mastery, even caricatures feel compelling. Through such performances, the charismatic characters live on in memory where lesser efforts would fade.

Not without faults like bloat and sequel-baiting, William Tell works better than it has any right to. If you find yourself reminiscing over Braveheart’s golden era, this Swiss saga delivers history-spanning adventure gratifyingly told.

While not for all, genre diehards will emerge satisfied. For immortalizing an enduring symbol afresh, the film warrants acclaim. Most importantly, it ensures another generation discovers why William Tell’s name remains as smoothly rolling as when legends were forged.