The Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey

1988
PG
1h 32m

IMDb RATING

6.6/10

4.1K

YOUR RATING

The Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey (1988)

Men seeking relief from the Black Death, guided by a boy's vision, dig a tunnel from 14th century England to 20th century New Zealand.

Play trailer2:25

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Sea Adventure Action Adventure Drama Fantasy Mystery Sci-Fi Thriller

Men seeking relief from the Black Death, guided by a boy's vision, dig a tunnel from 14th century England to 20th century New Zealand.Men seeking relief from the Black Death, guided by a boy's vision, dig a tunnel from 14th century England to 20th century New Zealand.Men seeking relief from the Black Death, guided by a boy's vision, dig a tunnel from 14th century England to 20th century New Zealand.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.6/10

4.1K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 21 wins & 5 nominations

Videos1

Trailer 2:25

Trailer

Photos81

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
It was this movie that convinced the producers of Alien³ (1992) to hire Vincent Ward as writer/director (although Ward would eventually leave the set of Alien 3 after many creative differences with the studio).

Goofs
Unsurprisingly, the area around Ruapehu, with its three volcanoes, looks very little like Cumbria which doesn't have volcanoes or the vast open plains of the Central Plateau.

Crazy credits
Some releases of the film display the following message before the film starts:

"You are about to watch the Time-Travel Adventure Film THE NAVIGATOR. DO NOT ADJUST YOUR SET. The first minutes of THE NAVIGATOR are shown in the stark black and white of 14th Century England during the black plague.

At the moment when the Navigator's 14th Century travelers begin to reach the modern 20th century, the world of the Navigator bursts into color on your screen."

Connections
Featured in Century of Cinema: Cinema of Unease: A Personal Journey by Sam Neill (1995)

User reviews53

Review

Featured review

9/10

wondrous surreal adventure indie

It's 1348 Cumbria, England. Black Death has killed a third of Europe and is spreading in England. Griffin is a young boy in a village which is still free from the disease. He has visions of a cathedral. Connor leads a group to rig a spire on this cathedral. They dig using a machine and come out into the modern world on the other side. Martin declares it God's world which must be the other side of their cursed home world. Ulf fails to cross the highway and is left behind. His brother Searle leads the group as Connor goes off to find the church. They encounter three foundry workers on their last night before it is shut down. The workers take the copper from the group and cast a pinnacle. The group races to put it up before the sun rises.

This is a great surreal adventure. It's great use of black and white. It is original and unique. Crossing the highway is utterly memorable. The characters are great. This is a great concept that overcomes the lower budget and limited filmmaking. It is wondrous, thrilling, and memorable.