Alicja Bachleda-Curus as the Duchess of Lorraine: image - Monolith Films
The Polish actress plays Eleanor of Austria, Duchess of Lorraine (sometime Queen of Poland) in the lavish film about the Ottoman siege of the Habsburg capital.
“She came through great love, and also great tragedy,” Bachleda-Curus reflected in an interview with the Polish Press Agency.
The actress acknowledged that she had had long talks with her mother, a historian, about the role.
The movie, which was made by Italian director Renzo Martinelli, will arrive in Polish cinemas on 12 October.
Besides intrigues against palatial backdrops, Bachleda-Curus's part comes complete with a scene on the battlefield itself, tending to wounded soldiers.
For Polish viewers, the main draw will be the fabled cavalry charge at Vienna of Poland's winged hussars, under the command of King Jan Sobieski – in this instance played by acclaimed director and actor Jerzy Skolimowski.
“King John III Sobieski played a great role in the history of Europe and of the world, and this role is highlighted in the film,” the actress said, adding that the battle-scenes are “impressive.”
Nevertheless, she noted that “this is not a film about Poland, but about the victory of Europe as a whole, Poland included.”
Bachleda-Curus added that the main theme is the “clash between two completely different religions and cultures.”
Historians generally concur that the Allied triumph at Vienna was a seminal victory in staving off the threat of Ottoman expansion into the heart of Europe.
Several Polish actors are taking part in the movie besides Bachleda-Curus and Skolimowski. Piotr Adamczyk plays Habsburg Emperor Leopold I and Daniel Olbrychski – no stranger to historical epics – plays one of the winged cavalry.
Hollywood legend F. Murray Abraham (Amadeus, Scarface) plays the central role of Marco d'Aviano, a Capuchin friar who was an advisor at the court of Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I in Vienna. (nh)