The Name of the Rose (M) PRESENTED IN 35MM FILM

The Name of the Rose (M, 1986) 40th Anniversary Presented in 35mm Film by The Revival House Perth

In 14th century Italy, a Franciscan friar named William of Baskerville (Sean Connery) arrives at an isolated monastery renowned for its vast library to investigate a series of mysterious deaths. Accompanying him is his young apprentice Adso of Melk (Christian Slater), a novice monk eager to learn from the legendary scholar. The monastery's monks, led by the authoritarian Abbot (Michael Hordern), initially resist William's investigation, but as more monks die under increasingly bizarre circumstances, they reluctantly grant him access to the library—the monastery's most jealously guarded treasure containing invaluable manuscripts and forbidden knowledge. As William methodically unravels the mystery, he discovers that the deaths are connected to a rare and dangerous book hidden within the library's labyrinthine passages. The investigation becomes both intellectual puzzle and moral battle as William confronts the monastery's dark secrets about the suppression of knowledge and the corruption of ecclesiastical power.

Director Jean-Jacques Annaud adapts Umberto Eco's sprawling novel into a visually stunning medieval mystery that emphasizes atmosphere and visual storytelling over narrative accessibility. The 1986 film's greatest achievement is its production design—the monastery becomes a character itself, with its soaring stone architecture, candlelit scriptoriums, and hidden passages creating oppressive beauty. Sean Connery brings intellectual authority and surprising warmth to William, making him both brilliant investigator and compassionate observer of human frailty. Christian Slater's Adso serves as audience surrogate, his wonder and moral education mirroring our own journey through the film's complex narrative. James Horner's haunting score emphasizes the film's medieval atmosphere. While the narrative can be dense and occasionally impenetrable, the film's visual richness and thematic depth reward patient engagement with questions about knowledge, power, and faith.

Original format and audio experience of this film faithfully reproduced by The Revival House. Presented in 35mm film unless noted otherwise.

When: Sunday, August 2nd at 6:30PM
Where: The Revival House at the Como Theatre
Rating: R 18+ (The content is high in impact)