Review Melchior the Apothecary

tagonist is mildly formed during the film, but his character won’t get much depth. In general, in the first Melchior film the protagonist is not much more than an efficient Middle Age detective, lacking additional complex human features.

Perhaps it is even irrational to expect some deeper character development from a genre movie, but the screenplay of Melchior the Apothecary would have needed it. Until the last second, the film is fully laden, there are dozens new episodical characters thrown into the action, some of them in order to cover the traces, some to enrich the picture, but as the story rushes forward at mind-boggling speed, the viewer is unable to keep up with the tempo. Perhaps the filmmakers have overestimated the impatience of the audience? Perhaps it would have been a good idea to drop the storyline of a murder and to concentrate on the development of characters instead. That would have coaxed the audience back to the cinema hall to follow the next adventures of already familiar characters.

Despite of the schematic features of some of the characters in the first film, it is a pleasure to watch the passion of young actors. Märten Metsaviir plays the protagonist in such a natural way that it may be even forgotten that he is acting. At the same time, several of his older colleagues tend to overact while acquiring even some caricatural features. Metsaviir has understood his role extremely thoroughly, not requiring grandiose gestures and overacting – the protagonist wins over the audience with his stoicism and cool charm. At some point, even mysticism works for him – the viewers are left clueless what is underneath the mild cover of the young hero. It can be assumed that the mystery will be unwrapped in the next Melchior films. Young actress Maarja Johanna Mägi in the role of Melchior’s apprentice and assistant Gerke is even more enchanting. Whereas Metsaviir’s apothecary is an introvert, then Gerke is quite the opposite, simmering and energetic, sometimes even unpredictable. She has an ethereal effect in the robust world of men – sensitive yet strongly self-conscious, and someone who won’t be disturbed by the unravelling murder mystery. It may even seem that her role is quite unimportant in the light of other events; however, she adds a refreshing humane approach. For instance, at the moments when the turns of the criminal mystery become too mind-bending, the careless and even child-like Maarja Johanna Mägi is able to balance the atmosphere.

There are more young talents involved in the production, and these are the people that largely created the movie. Melchior the Apothecary is carried by a youthful, fresh energy, and the audience won’t see too much of slow idling about; quite the contrary, everything is somewhat dynamic and fast. From the standpoint of the franchise production, it has been quite a daring decision to introduce new faces, as the filmmakers seem to be certain that the film would sell even without the star actors. Even the poster of the film won’t show any familiar and acclaimed actors, who have usually starred in Estonian films, but perhaps because of such novelty Melchior the Apothecary has acquired a unique appearance.

Although the epic of Melchior the Apothecary is still searching for its place, several elements in the story have not yet quite established themselves, and this imaginary world probably won’t be too easy to sell to all audiences, there is still a huge step taken towards a successful franchise. The filmmakers definitely succeeded in one thing: I felt wonderful while watching the film, nothing seemed artificial or useless. The result is the feeling that goes with watching the best cinema hits – when the viewer enjoys spending time with the film. I could easily watch the film again just one day after the screening, and it would not be an obligation but a pleasant pastime. And it is exactly that feeling which will coax the audience into the cinemas to watch the second, third, or even the tenth Melchior film. We have got a national film for ourselves that unlike the commercial comedies released during the past few years respects the audience. Let’s hope that the second and third part of Melchior the Apothecary will follow in the same direction. EF

The production design of all the Melchior films is made by Matis Mäesalu and his team.