Maximilian & Marie De Bourgogne

This is one of the finest historical miniseries that I have ever seen. From the lighting, architectural settings, fashions, social mores, and armory equipment, we are thrown back in time to the world of Central Europe in the year 1477 and beyond. Though a dramatization, the overall historical accuracy is excellent. We stand on the edge of the High Renaissance which is about to begin in Italy while northern Europe is mired in a world of barbarism, outdated attitudes towards women, rulership, methods of dining, hygiene, and the law. Young ladies are betrothed at the age of 10; a boy simply because he is of the male gender can inherit a throne at the age of 12. The average lifespan was somewhere between 25 and 28, perhaps even lower. Any illness or even the act of giving birth could prove deadly. The threat of the Black Plague hangs overhead. And overriding everything is the constant political haggling and plotting. For anyone who enjoys GAME OF THRONES, this is the REAL thing.The amount of warfare and its cost in lives and funding that takes place for the sake of acquiring a sliver of land is enough to make one cry. Yet, beneath the surface of all this one senses a new humanism on the horizon. While there are a goodly number of key characters, this is the story of Maximilian of Austria and Marie De Bourgogne (Burgundy). The acting credits for these two may be located on IMDb. They are superb as are the rest of a flawless European cast. France wants Burgundy following the death of its king - Charles the Bold. His daughter and sole heir (MDB) bucks tradition and assumes the throne even though she is female and her legitimacy is therefore challenged by assorted members of the court and society in general. Maximilian's father, the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, wants his son to marry MDB in order to save his crumbling domain from the onslaught of France, Hungary, and others. The two have never seen each other and are resistant. However, once an exchange of portable images is received, things begin to change. But the problem is how to get them safely together in order for the marriage to take place. How it happens is part of the fun and fascination of this miniseries (NO Spoilers here). Even when one gives birth to a male heir, the baby must be shown to the general public to prove its gender. The male and female leads are respectively quite handsome and beautiful and their love is genuine. Except for no dragons and constant references to God and the "other world", like GOT there is betrayal, lying, duplicity, plotting, murder, assassination, executions, battle scenes, and walled citadels.Six episodes on two discs, more than an hour in length for each one, comprise this magnificent historical recreation. Production values are A+; and the dialogue is in German and French (with English sub-titles) which adds an additional note of authenticity. I suggest binge watching this miniseries over a two day period for maxim(illi)um effect.

...unmatched quality, but all too short. cannot recommend highly enough.😢👍

Costumes, actors, scenery, writing all fantastic. In German and French with English subtitles. As a hint of Game of Thrones. The chemistry between the lead actors is palpable. Really enjoyed!

Language German with English subtitles.I found this quit enjoyable. While the story wasn't the epic that I thought it would be, the actors made the love affair of the two leads believable. The costumes and scenery was wonderful and the overall movie was well done. Not the sweeping epic the trailer or movie poster leads you to believe but a nice story over all and well done. Good for a nice binge

Absolute 5-star. Realistic and elegant. Though I doubt Austria was really that poor with all the precious metals mines. It was for the contrasting sake, did the filmmakers present Austria as poor, crude and martial compared with the refined Burgundy. Burgundy and Austria's union secured relative liberty in Europe, against French increasing absolutism. I am playing Burgundy in Europa Universalis 4.

For anyone interested in this film that does not speak German, this particular version (mad in USA) is subtitled in English; a feature critical for some viewers and NOT LISTED by Amazon in the detail and description.

Captured the nuances as well as the brutal practicality of medieval politics, not unlike today. Plus, male lead is total hunk.

I loved it! It is so romantic, with superb acting. I don't quite understand the fuss about the subtitles; they are basic English and are not hard to read. It just means you can't multitask or look at your smart phone while watching this. I appreciate the subtitles as my high school French doesn't cut it. After awhile, you don't notice the languages. You can purchase just one episode of this in SD for $1.99 to see if you like it and watch on your laptop, Kindle or Firestick. Some of the unhappy viewers are limiting their exposure to a lot of wonderful films in other languages by just sticking with British or American productions. If you attend a foreign film festival, you will see all the richness you are missing and some high quality films. Plus, Jannis Niewöhner as Maximilian is really handsome, so I give him five stars, too. Marie's stepmom is a savvy woman, as well. There is enough humor to make it entertaining in balancing out the harshness and cruelty of the times. There are also enough fight/battle scenes to make it not just a chick flick, and not too gory. Something for everyone.

My DVD arrived on time in excellent condition. Many thanks.

tres satisfaite

Excellent performances and production values.

Excellent series. Loved the fact that the cast spoke German and French as they would have in their time. Great english subtitles. If only more great German , French historial series would have subtitles.Room for a second series charting Maximillan and a growing Philip the Handsome. Pleaseeee.

ストーリーや衣装も歴史に「概ね」忠実で、ハプスブルク家の研究家、江村洋氏の著『中世最後の騎士』が現実になった感があります。15世紀後半当時のオーストリアの辺境ぶりや、ブルゴーニュ公国の都会ぶり等、実写（合成含む）だからこそ、またドイツ語とフランス語それぞれの場面があることでリアルに感じられます。父親のシャルル突進公が戦死し、追い詰められたマリー女公と、父帝に反発する貧乏国の王子マクシミリアン。フランスのシャルル11世が策を巡らすなか二人が結婚するまでで4話。ブルゴーニュ公となったマクシミリアンが勇敢にフランスを撃退し、公私ともに円満なのも束の間、マリー女公と死別するまでで2話。計6話で完結します。時間配分のバランスが悪いのですが、マクシミリアンの学友ポルハイムの恋愛沙汰や妹クニグンデ姫の結婚問題、その侍女で○フレのロジーナ、明らかに心身のバランスを欠いたシャルル王太子ら、脇役キャラクターも個性的で見飽きません。場面は短いですが、同時期に行われたジャンヌ王女の結婚もきちんと押さえてあります。（佐藤賢一『王妃の離婚』のヒロイン）日本では『タイムトラベラーの系譜』シリーズ位しか知られていませんが、マクシミリアン役のヤニス・ニーヴナーは文句無しのハンサムな騎士ぶり。ヒロイン（キャスト記載では筆頭）のクリスタ・テレもジャケット写真よりふっくらとしており、儚げで美しい姫です。ドイツ語・フランス語音声に英語字幕のみ。日本国内で再生可能でした。