Review of The Name of the Rose (1986) by Rick R — 14 Dec 2009

The Name of the Rose (1986).

This movie is based on Umberto Eco's novel set in a 1327 Northern Italy Benedictine monastery, and features an international cast. Two Franciscan delegate monks, Brother William of Baskerville (Sean Connery), and his novitiate side-kick, Novice Adso of Melk (Christian Slater) are here to attend a council debate dealing with the poor and church wealth.

There are some mysterious deaths of some talented Illuminators in the Abbey. Many are blaming it on the work of the devil, but Brother William's superior skills of deduction and reason suspects that it might be something else.

The other monks are very secretive about what is going on at the monastery. Making everybody suspicious, including the hunchback Salvatore (brilliantly played by a very young Ron Perlman) who speaks many different tongues. There's also a beautiful peasant girl (Valentina Vargas) who may be a witch and has enchanted young Adso.

Brother William wants to investigate the Scriptorium and the abbey's library to see what they're hiding. Are there forbidden books that are stored there? There is also the untimely visit of the grand inquisitor, Bernardo Gui (F. Murray Abraham) who has dealt with Brother William before.