Australia, New Zealand, 1988
Dolby Stereo, English
An Australian/New Zealand fantasy film directed by Vincent Ward.
Plot Summary
In 14th century Cumbria, the Black Death is decimating the country. Although a small village seems to have been spared so far, it’s only a matter of time. The villagers rely on the young boy Griffin who has visions of an impending disaster, but who also suggests that if some of the men travel to a nearby cave and mine copper ore, they can use it to fashion a cross which, if placed on the steeple of “the biggest Church in all of Christendom,” will placate God and spare them from the plague. But as they’re mining, they break into a curiously smooth-walled tunnel and, investigating further, find a metal ladder. Climbing it, they emerge above ground in 20th century New Zealand, unable to comprehend the many dazzling sights and technologies they encounter. Undaunted, they press on, determined to carry out their mission before it’s too late.
Credits
Crew
Director: Vincent Ward
© Arenafilm Pty Ltd MCMLXXXVIII [1988]
Arenafilm and The Film Investment Corporation of New Zealand present an Australian and Zealand co-production produced with the assistance of The Australian Film Commission, The New Zealand Film Commission. A film by Vincent Ward
Executive Producer: Gary Hannam
Producer: John Maynard
Co-producer: Gary Hannam
Screenplay: Vincent Ward, Kely Lyons, Geoff Chapple
From an Original Idea by: Vincent Ward
Director of Photography: Geoffrey Simpson
Editor: John Scott
Music: Davood A. Tabrizi
Sound Recordist: Dick Reade
Costume Designer: Glenys Jackson
Make-up: Marjory Hamlin
Special Effects Supervisor: Paul Nichola
Mechanical Effects: Brian Harris
Special Effects Pyrotechnics: Ken Durey
Special/Photographic Effects: Mirage Effects Pty. Ltd
Production Designer: Sally Campbell
Conceptual Designer: Michael Worrall
Casting Director: Diana Rowan
Cast
Bruce Lyons (Connor)
Chris Haywood (Arno)
Hamish McFarlane (Griffin)
Marshall Napier (Searle)
Noel Appleby (Ulf)
Paul Livingston (Martin)
Sarah Peirse (Linnet)
Mark Wheatley (Tog 1)
Tony Herbert (Tog 2)
Jessica Cardiff-Smith (Esme)
Roy Wesney (grandpa)
Kathleen-Elizabeth Kelly (grandma)
Jay Saussey (Griffin’s girlfriend)
Charles Walker (old Chrissie)
Desmond Kelly (Smithy)
Bill Le Marquand (Tom)
Jay Lavea Laga’aia (Jay)
Norman Fairley (submarine captain)
Alister Babbage (Grigor)
Alternative Titles
Aikasuunnistaja – Finland
O Navegador – Portugal
Navigaattori – Finland
Le navigateur: une odyssée médiévale – France
The Navigator – Denmark
Navigator – France, Serbia, Uruguay (video)
Der Navigator – West Germany
The Navigator: A Mediaeval Odyssey – UK
The Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey – USA
The Navigator: An Odyssey Across Time – USA (video)
Der Navigator – Eine bizarre Reise durch Zeit und Raum – Germany
Der Navigator – Eine mittelalterliche Odyssee – West Germany (television)
Der Navigator – Eine Odyssee durch die Zeit – Germany (alternative title)
A navigátor – Középkori Odüsszeia – Hungary
Navigator – Um Odisséia no Tempo – Brazil
Navigator – Un’odissea nel tempo – Italy
Navigator, una odisea en el tiempo – Spain
Navigator: Uma Odisséia No Tempo – Brazil
Navigatören – Sweden
Nawigator – Poland
Навигатор. Средневековая одиссея – Soviet Union
ウイザード – Japan
中世纪的导航者 – China (Mandarin)
Links
Extracts included in
Path of the Navigator: Vincent’s Odyssey (2019)
Twister: A Musical Catastrophe (2000)
References
Periodicals
- American Film vol.14 no.7 (May 1989) pp.61-62
- Cinefantastique vol.19 no.4 (May 1989) pp.38-39, 61 – illustrated article (by Alan Jones)
- Cinema Papers no.59 (September 1986) p.62 – article
- Cinema Papers no.66 (November 1987) p.58 – article
- Cinema Papers no.69 (May 1988) pp.30-31 – interview with Vincent Ward
- Cinema Papers no.72 (March 1989) pp.26-27 – illustrated article
- Écran Fantastique no.52 (January 1985) p.71 – credits, note (Horrorscope by Gilles Polinien)
- Écran Fantastique no.65 (February 1986) p.71 – note
- Empire no.1 (June/July 1989) p.86 – illustrated review (Empire directory by Sid Smith)
- Encore vol.3 no.15 (12 September 1985) p.9 – note
- Encore vol.5 no.1 (12 February 1987) p.6
- Encore vol.6 no.15 (31 August 1988) p.27 – article
- Encore vol.6 no.19 (27 October 1988) p.18, 20-22 – article
- Films and Filming no.413 (March 1989) pp.10-12 – illustrated article (The Navigator); 34, 35 – illustrated credits, review
- Inside Film no.74 (March 2005) p.60 – illustrated DVD review (Vigil/The Navigator by David Michôd)
- Interzone no.30 (July/August 1989) p.34 – review (by Nick Lowe)
- Metro no.148 (2006) pp.124-130 – illustrated article (New Zealand Film: National Identity and the Films of Vincent Ward by Lynette Read)
- Metro no.78 (Summer 1988/89) pp.53-54 – illustrated review (The Navigator by Peter Hughes)
- Monthly Film Bulletin vol.56 no.664 (May 1989) pp.144-145 – illustrated credits, synopsis, review
- Screen International no.704/705 (13 May 1989) p.44 – illustrated review
- Sight and Sound vol.4 no.4 (April 1994) p.62 – video review
- The Hollywood Reporter vol.306 no.47 (30 March 1989) pp.4, 23 – credits, review
- Variety 11 May 1988 p.28
Books
- 500 Essential Cult Movies: The Ultimate Guide by Jennifer Eiss with J.P. Rutter and Steve White p.162 – illustrated credits, synopsis, review
- Australian Film 1978-1994 by Scott Murray (ed.) p.254 – illustrated credits, synopsis, review
- Horror and Science Fiction Films IV by Donald C. Willis p.346
- The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Fantasy by David Pringle (general ed.) p.80 – credits, review
- Variety Science-Fiction Movies by Julian Brown (ed.) p.74-75 – illustrated credits, review
