Making a Medieval Movie: Crusading in a Czech quarry

By Marijan Krumlovský and Katarzyna Ogrodnik-Fujcik

For two days in October 2021 and April 2022 the quarry of Chlumčany in the Czech Republic was transformed into the Holy Land, being used as the filming location for the new movie, Zbojnik (The Outlaw).

Crusades to the Holy Land have captured people’s imagination for centuries. So have the tales of Robin Hood. Since 1938 when the first famous film with Errol Flynn was made, there have been numerous retellings of the story, but none of them were set in Bohemia. Not until now. A young Czech filmmaker, fascinated with both the famous bandit and Tolkien character Túrin Turambar, has decided to blend these two characters together and cast them into one, whom he named Ulrich of Ruppau (Oldřich z Roupova), the knight from Bohemia joining Lord Edward’s Crusade.

Directed and written by Leoš Kastner, ‘Zbojník’  (The Outlaw) blends impressive imagery with the blood-spattered visual aesthetic. Set in Bohemia in the aftermath of the decisive Battle on the Marchfeld (26 August 1278), the story revolves around a younger son of a lord, who comes back from the Holy Land only to learn that his king fell and the kingdom descended into chaos. Perhaps best described as ‘’the Robin Hood of Bohemia,’’  the film is neatly structured around its main character’s quest, which begins –  like in the case of the ‘’real’’ Robin Hood – in the Holy Land.

“Medieval Bohemia did not avoid crusading zeal, although it did not burn with it as fervently as other European countries did. But a few of its rulers let themselves be persuaded and took the cross” said Marijan Krumlovský, the film’s historical consultant. “Bohemian troops participated in the Second Crusade under Duke Ladislaus II, who joined forces with Conrad III. A larger force under Duke Děpolt set off with Frederick Barbarossa whose army was one of the largest crusading armies ever to set off from Europe.’’

The Czechs were to leave a lasting impression during the Third Crusade. Wherever they went, their route became littered with corpses. Killing and looting was their main pastime and to such extent that at Niš Frederick ordered eight crusaders from Bohemia to be executed for violence. Their conduct might have had a simple explanation: their army combined not only knights and soldiers but also ex-prisoners freed from their jails for the purpose of the crusade. The Czechs took part in the siege of Adrianopole and when the Crusader army crossed Helespont and reached Philadelphia the Bohemian troops attacked the town. Frederick sent his own son and namesake to stop Děpolt. When the attackers withdrew, five hundred young Byzantine riders left the town and attacked the Bohemian troops in return. In vivid detail Niketas Choniates described what followed:

As soon as they discovered that they came across some iron statues and giants immune to injuries rather than mortals, who bellowed with laughter at their expense, these confused young men turned back and made good their escape, many of them having received long wounds on the sensitive parts of their buttocks – these round cheeks – from the bizarre whips the aforesaid giants used.

The Czechs might have been prone to unnecessary and excessive acts of violence, but when it came to fighting the true battles they were irreplaceable. They won fame in the battle at Filomelion and later at Axarat. And after the emperor’s death they proved their valour at the Siege of Acre. The German chronicler of the crusade was impressed with their fighting skills which they put to use yet again on the River Belus. He noted:

There were three hundred of them, no more, when riding their horses more like devils than children of God, they forced the bridge on which so many good Christians already lost their lives. Many of them fell pierced with arrows, others died of sabre, but they would not stop cutting the Saracens down. Until they killed them all.

Soon afterwards. when Duke Děpolt died the remnants of his troops joined English forces under Richard I the Lionheart.

‘’We do not know much about particpation of the Bohemian forces in other crusades, but there were always individuals eager to take the Jerusalem road,” notes Krumlovský. ”Just as the main character of our movie did. He joined the English forces under Lord Edward, the future Edward I of England. The scenario begins with him fighting the infidels in the Holy Land.”

Lord Edward’s Crusade was Europe’s last desperate try to save what was left in the Levant. It did wonders for Edward’s reputation as a future king, but nothing to prevent the imminent fall of the last crusader strongholds. When the expedition reached the Holy Land the successful crusading days were long over and the prince could do little to stop the rising power of the Egyptian Mamluks. Niether could Oldřich.

‘’We wanted to show how step by step the Muslims won back the remaining parts of the Latin lands in Outremer, ‘’ said Leoš Kastner, the director. ‘’We knew perfectly well what difficulties we might encounter. Finding the right number of reenactors covering military orders was a struggle in itself, but finding the ones covering their Muslim opponents? Wishful thinking, or so we thought. But in the end we were successful and invited KVH Teokratos, the reenactment group from Slovakia, whose members did an admirable job as the Muslims’’.

All reenactors participating in filming the Holy Land scenes burnt with crusading zeal. These were members of the following groups: SHŠ Ordo Military, Invictum – Historical fencing team, Servus Bellum, KVH Teokratos, Askalon Sdružení Šermířů, Via Boemia, Teutoni and Doba Karlova. Everyone was thrilled to be there, there were handshakes all around, a very friendly atmosphere. Band of brothers-like experience. Of both highly talented and accomplished people.

The filming began early. At the break of dawn everyone was up and ready. Attention to choreography and historical detail came first. Then sharply drawn characters, very vivid and colourful. A cast of suitably impressive and stylishly memorable defenders of the true faith was delivered. On a beautifully prepared set Templars. Hospitallers, Lazarists and Teutonic Knights did their best to defeat the forces of Al-Said Barakah, the son and heir of Baybars.

Fast-paced, well-acted and beautifully filmed, no one would have guessed how much sweat, tears and… sand it had cost. The director and the whole crew showed so much enthusiasm that even numerous retakes, camera failures and injuries received by Leoš Kastner did not affect the prevailing cheerful mood. Marijan Krumlovský, the film historical consultant, who also played a knight of the Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem was so determined to get the job done, that he took part in the sessions with his toe half-broken. A feat even more noteworthy due to the omnipresent sand. Soft and yet so damn hard to move in.

Recently, however, with the filming more than halfway done, production has been halted because of budget constraints. ‘Zbojník’ (The Outlaw) is an independent film and students’ project, which relies on fund-raising. Let us not let the project be hampered by lack of funds. Any support would be much appreciated. Click here to support the project on Paypal.