WILLIAM TELL REVIEW

 WILLIAM TELL: By adding modern themes, William Tell turns the classic folktale into a historical epic.  Against the backdrop of Austrian dominance over Switzerland, the Swiss in the movie Afdah fight back against their cruel overlords despite overwhelming odds.  William Tell is happy with his wife and son after surviving the horrors of the Crusades.  Tell has found peace as a hunter living off the land and educating his son to avoid the mistakes he made as a child.  Despite life's hardships, people are living under Austrian rule—until a tax collector is killed.  Tell is then drawn into the conflict, and everyone is urging him to lift his bow again and defend Switzerland from its oppressors. 

A minor disagreement quickly escalates into a fight for the Swiss people's lives when Austrian Viceroy Gessler (Connor Swindells) makes the decision to show his brutality in addition to forcing the Swiss to submit.  He intends to ensure that everyone in the nation suffers if they defy his and the king's directives.  

Nick Hamm's film feels like it was shot in the 1990s, complete with flashbacks, a lavish soundtrack, and as much excessive violence as you can handle.  Reports state that the creation of William Tell cost roughly $50 million, and Hamm makes the most of that amount. 

WILLIAM TELL
 WILLIAM TELL

As one could expect from a film of this level, most of the performers provide their greatest performances, illustrating the struggles of a people living under an oppressive regime.  The titular character, William Tell Afdah Info, is played well by Claes Bang as the stoic and tormented commander of the rebellion, while Ellie Bamber portrays Bertha, the niece of the Austrian ruler and hope that Switzerland can find peace and stop the crimes, in a dramatic way. 

 Particular praise should go to Amar Chadha-Patel for his portrayal of Fürstm, the crafty priest who poses as a holy man until the time is ripe to confront Switzerland's oppressors. 

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