The Day of the Siege: September Eleven 1683

This film is a masterpiece, an historical epic recounting the Ottoman Turks invasion and siege of Vienna, the gateway to the West, on September 11, 1683. This is a moment in history when Christendom and Western civilization truly hung in the balance. The stellar international cast includes F. Murray Abraham (as the Christian monk, Marco D’Aviano), Jerzy Skoliumowski (as the legendary Polish king, Jan III Sobieski), Claire Bloom (as Marco D’Aviano’s mother), and Enrico Lo Verso (as Kara Mustafa, the Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Turks). The movie is historically accurate and one wonders why this film is not listed in the filmography of F. Murray Abraham and Claire Bloom on Wikipedia. Is it because of the favorable pious and tolerant description of the Christian monk or simply because it is an Italian-Polish production and not a production by Hollywood? The battle scenes are realistic and a graphic extravaganza as one would imagine happened during the historic siege of Vienna, when the Ottoman tide was turned. And this was a momentous event. Ottoman sultans had stated that their ultimate goal was the conquest of the West and the turning of Christian churches and gothic cathedrals, including St. Peter’s in Rome, into mosques! To make this a reality they amassed a 300,000 man army against a divided Christendom. The salvation of the Christians in the fortified and besieged city of Vienna, “the golden Apple,” is the mounted Polish cavalry, the winged hussars, led by their king, Jan Sobieski — 40,000 men who turned out to be only 20,000 in number! The fluid geopolitics of the times (e.g., the politics of the Sun King, Louis XIV of France, who was not shown, in relation to the Austrian Emperor and the Turkish sultan) are accurately described. One hopes that neither the magnificent war horses or the stunt men were hurt in the bloody scenes. The movie even has its light hearted moments with Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I’s panicky mannerisms during moments of crisis. He and his court are depicted much worse than I suspect the historic Hapsburg emperor was, despite his prudent and speedy flight from Vienna. The Ottoman sultan is briefly depicted in a more imperious and statesmen-like manner, even though by this time most sultans were depraved as well as treacherous. The Christian monk, Marco D’Aviano, and his adversary, Kara Mustafa, are reverently treated. The dramatic contrast between the characters and their religions, as much as the battle scenes, are magnificently displayed in the film. This movie is highly recommended without caveats for all viewers — from history buffs for enjoyment to homeschoolers for cinematographic supplementation of their history curriculum. Rating: 5-star epic, historic movie recommended by MAF.

One of the most edifying films I have seen all year or am likely to see until the end of the year. In other words, this film will do both your mind and soul good! Reject the shallow critics who judge merely on appearances and are blithely unaware of the depths of goodness inherent to this film project. Many judge on faithful representation of historical reality (in which this film shines) or on mere technical excellence (which this film does also exhibit, despite the discounters, who probably oppose its message). These are simply the 1st and 2nd levels of film criticism. Yet it is on the most important, ultimate, tertiary 3rd level of film criticism that this film truly astounds in a most marvelous manner! For this film reveals that spirit must underlie any significant physically world-changing phenomenon. We see how the great spiritual evil of aboriginal imperialistic Muhammadan Islam underlies those waging physical war against Christianity (Europe, the Vatican, leaders of the Church, the Church in any form at all), and we see how God must work through a man in order to successfully resist this spiritual-physical imperialism. Thus the character of the monk (a true, historical figure) is extremely far from secondary, as reductionist fools assert. He is both a central historical cause and a significant literary link to weld the various factors into a truly enjoyably and coherent whole. Without the Soldier of Christ, the entire world will be subject to the wickedness of evil men--oppressing, enslaving, etc. Not only is there nothing wrong with this film but there is also very much RIGHT with it! Buy this film and grow mentally and spiritually in order to stop today's Islamic (and Humanist and any other kind of) imperialism, as was done in the prior two waves of global jihad.

I pride myself of being well schooled in history, especially Euro history, and I know of the Moslem attempts to take Europe by invasion, but I was not familiar of the Siege of Vienna by them. I am more familiar of their taking of Constantinople and later invading Romania where Vlad Dracula (Vlad the Impaler) helped stop the Moslem horde by butchering the prisoners he caught (no tears here!) during supper time. Anyhow, I found this film very interesting, well made, cast well and good action. I did not realize the Moslems (yes, I spelled it MY way!) came so close to taking a major European city even as early Americans were settling in , well, America. But if Vlad was vicious so were the Moslems. One of the reasons for the Crusades was to take back lands stolen from the East Roman Empire and other Christian states that Mohammad stole from the Christians. I felt the movie portrayed both sides fairly, though I understand the Moslems did kill all the women taken captive after they "entertained" the troops, though Christian soldiers in the crusades did not always act "Christian" toward the enemy prisoners either. Anyhow, some pretty interesting battle scenes, especially with the cannon works. I recommend this for Euro historian fanantics. I got my DVD at Amazon and at a very good price. FOUR STARS; Five if they didn't have that silly story of the deaf, dumb girl and the old Moslem man which I understand was pure fiction. Anyhow, good historical drama entertainment! Enjoy!.

Der „Zweiteiler“ umfasst thematisch die zweite Belagerung Wiens am Ende des 17. Jahrhunderts. Noch 20 Jahre vor der Gründung Preußens. Das KuK-Reich mit der Reichshauptstadt Wien steht völlig allein dem letzten Vorstoß der Osmanen in das Herz Europas gegenüber. Auf England, Frankreich und die Kleindeutschen Staaten ist kein Verlass. Preußen war erst kurz vor der Staatsbildung. Wien (die Hauptstadt des Heilig Römischen Reiches Deutscher Nationen), von den Osmanen „goldener Apfel genannt, sieht sich mit 12.000 Reichstruppen in und um Wien einer 200.000 Mann starken osmanischen Invasionsarmee gegenüber. Die Hilfsgesuche an die anderen Europäischen Großmächte (England, Frankreich, Russland) blieben zum Teil sogar unbeantwortet. Einzig und allein hörte der polnische König Sobiesky von dem Dilemma und dem vorstehenden Untergang des Abendlandes!!! Durch seinen Coup (Schlacht am Kahlenberg) führte er seine schwere Kavallerie und Geschütze über den voll bewaldeten Berg mit viel Unterholz. Der Plan gelang und er konnte die Osmanen von hinten unter Feuer nehmen. Zudem setzte er seine legendären Flügelhusaren ein, die schwere Kavallerie Polens, die wie japanische Samurai kämpften. Seinerzeit die beste Kavallerie auf der Welt. Fast zeitgleich traten auch lothringische, bayerische und sächsische Reichstruppen, die doch zu ihrem Kaiser standen, auf das Feld und nahmen die Osmanen in die Zange. Das riesige osmanische Heer wurde fast komplett zerschlagen. Das tolle an diesem pan-europäischen Film war einmal die Nichtfokussierung auf die üblichen Mächte England, Österreich, Preußen, Frankreich und Russland, sondern auf das so oft aufgelöste Polen, dass uns an einem wirklichen Wendepunkt der Geschichte vor dem Untergang des Abendlandes gerettet hat. Wäre Wien gefallen, wären Paris, Moskau und sogar London gefolgt. Wir sollten viel häufiger solche europäischen Filme gezeigt bekommen, wo die eher kleineren Länder Grosses vollbringen: die Niederlande mit dem Prinz von Oranien, der die Osmanen dann bis Konstantinopel (zurzeit Istanbul) zurückgedrängt hat. Die Schweizer, die in schierer Unterlegenheit den Papst vor den Goten in die Engelsburg geschafft und gerettet haben. Die Dänen, als starker Gegner der Hanse. Die Schweden als mächtige Antipode der Katholiken im 30jährigen Krieg. Und bitte lasst das die Europäer selbst verfilmen, nicht durch Hollywood. Die Amis haben wirklich keinerlei Ahnung von europäischer Geschichte und verfälschen jeden Film (gerade Mittelalter und 2. WK sind besorgniserregend von Unwissenheit geplagt) Stellt euch vor die neue Verfilmung von „Im Westen nichts Neues“ käme von den Amerikanern, die es ja schon zweimal schlecht versucht haben. „Der rote Baron“, „Stalingrad“, „Der Untergang“, „Die Kathedrale des Meeres“ etc.; alles Produktionen des betreffenden Landes. Der neuerliche Flop „Napoleon“ zeigt, dass das amerikanische Volk überhaupt kein Interesse an Napoleon hat, ihn sogar nur 20 % kennen und die Europäer mittlerweile selbstbewusst genug sind, ihre Geschichte selbst zu verfilmen. Der britische Film „Waterloo“ aus den 70ern ist um Äonen besser, als der amerikanische Aufguss mit Jaquin Phoenix. Selbst der französische Vierteiler aus den 2010er Jahren war besser, perfekt recherchiert und bei den Hauptprotagonisten durch entsprechende Landsleute besetzt: Wellington, ein Engländer, Metternich, ein Österreicher, Blücher, von Stein und Louise Viktoria, deutsche Darsteller/innen und der Zar wurde von einem Russen gespielt. Napoleon natürlich von einem Franzosen. 😉 So macht unparteiisches und nicht amerikanisiertes Kino Spaß. Der Film „Die Belagerung“ ist spannendes „Popcornkino“ aber peinlich genau dran an den Fakten, dass dieser Film als Lehrfilm gelten kann, da die historischen Ereignisse, wenn auch zeitlich für einen Film gerafft, auf den Punkt sind. Positiv auch (im Gegensatz zu der Darstellung der Deutschen im 2. WK in amerikanischen Filmen), werden die Osmanen nicht als hirnlose Bestien dargestellt, sondern als charakterstarke, intelligente und humane Heerführer mit einer überragenden Artillerie, die ehrenvoll verloren und starben. Europa; du hast die größte Kultur und die größten wundervollen Unterschiede der Welt. Warum machen wir nicht viel mehr daraus?

Good quality and arrived quickly. Would definitely recommend.

It is about the siege of Vienna in 1683 of by the Ottoman Turks. And how the Polish King with his winged hussars saved Vienna. The Hapsburg's made to look like morons, while they were a bit incompetent, they were no morons. Somewhat biased, but still an interesting docudrama in many ways, it helps if you like history.

Please note: This is in the original English language, so you don’t have to be concerned about German dubbing. Highly politically incorrect version of Ottoman/Austrian international diplomacy... with extreme prejudice towards the attempted invasion of Western Europe and its subjugation as an Islamic vassal. Thanks to the reluctant intervention of aging, Polish King Jan III Sobieski, the ungrateful Austrian nobility were saved from inevitable slaughter, along with the city of Vienna, 12 September 1683. Sadly, I have met more than a few Poles - including Donald Trump, in his address to the Polish nation a few months back - who seem to be blissfully unaware of this stalwart Polish hero who saved Europe from becoming a caliphate, like Andalusian Spain. In a similar vein, France was saved from a Moorish invasion from the Spanish caliphate of Andalusia, by Charles Martel, 10 October 732. It is also quite obvious that Amazon is employing 'political correctness' here, as we now see in so many public fora where, in this case, one's original submission is either censored or butchered to comply with the pseudo-politics of an artificially imposed 'community cohesion'. One is repeatedly reminded of the dictum of that Spanish American philosopher, George Santayana, 'Those who fail to learn history are doomed to repeat it', from his 5 volume 'Life of Reason' pentology, Volume 2, written 1905-08.

Billig Film