Labyrinth (2012)

 

The series follows two women, modern-day archeologist Alice Tanner (Vanessa Kirby) and medieval Alaïs Pelletier du Mas (Jessica Brown Findlay) who lives through the Crusades and Cathar massacres in medieval France—and their quest to find the Holy Grail. Alice, a volunteer at a French archaeological excavation, discovers the skeletal remains of two people in a cave, as well as a labyrinth-engraved ring, which attracts the attention of unscrupulous individuals. In 1209, newly married Alaïs is living in Carcassonne, a stronghold of Cathars who have been declared heretical by the Church. Alaïs and her father are protecting three sacred books that reveal the secret of the Holy Grail from the Crusaders.

 

Directed by:
Written by:
Running Time:
Original Release:
Filming Locations:
Cast & Characters:
Christopher Smith
Kate Mosse (novel), Adrian Hodges (screenplay)
180 minutes
March 25th, 2013 (UK)
Cape Town, South Africa and Aude, France
John Hurt (Audric Baillard), Tom Felton (Viscount Trencavel), Vanessa Kirby (Alice Tanner)

 

RELATED PHOTOS

    

visit the gallery for posters, stills, screencaptures and more

 

PRODUCTION NOTES

Two intelligent headstrong heroines, 17-year-old Alaïs Pelletier (Jessica Brown Findlay) from 13th century Carcassonne and modern-day PhD graduate Dr. Alice Tanner (Vanessa Kirby) experience an adventure that intertwines their lives. Separated by time, but united in a common destiny.

Based on the multi-million selling novel by Kate Mosse, LABYRINTH is a Ridley Scott & Tony Scott Production, featuring an all-star cast including; John Hurt (Harry Potter, Tinker, Taylor, Soldier, Spy) as Audric, a specialist on Ancient Egypt; Vanessa Kirby (Great Expectations; The Hour) as Alice, a modern-day fearless girl, who experiences dramatic flashbacks from the 13th Century; Jessica Brown Findlay (Downton Abbey, Misfits) as Alaïs, a 13th century courageous young woman, determined to protect the ‘secret’; Tom Felton (Harry Potter, Rise of the Planet of the Apes) as Trencavel, a leader of the Carcassonne religion and a man of integrity, popular with his vassal lords and subjects; Katie McGrath (Red Mist, A Princess for Christmas) as Alaïs sister, Oriane Congost, a clever, devious and ambitious character, eager for power at whatever cost; and Sebastian Stan (Captain America, Black Swan) as Will Franklin, a brave, charming and passionate friend.

Alice (Kirby) inherits a house in the South of France from an aunt she has never met; she is haunted by dreams of a woman from the past, whom she does not know; and now she stumbles upon an archaeological find that will bear witness to a genocide committed 800 years ago on European soil, which will lead Alice to the secrets of the Holy Grail.

Alice had never been to this part of France, but she is driven by an inexplicable compulsion to find out the secrets of the past and of a mysterious woman who lived 800 years ago, Alaïs. What is Alaïs trying to lead her to? Why can’t she shake the feeling that something monumental is at stake?

Alice knows that there are people willing to kill for whatever is behind the meaning of the labyrinth she found carved into the wall of a cave. But she must now race to find out what happened to Alaïs and how she can prevent the past from recurring.

As the parallel storylines set in the southwest of France unfold, both ancient and modern-day conspiracies are unearthed, all revolving around three hidden books – The Book of Words, The Book of Potions and The Book of Numbers. Together, these tomes hold the secret of the true Grail, which dates back to the Ancient Egyptian era many years before Christ. Alaïs and those closest to her must battle to protect the secret.

From the Producers of Pillars of the Earth, comes a four-hour mini-series event that will take you on a ride through the here and now and the crusades of medieval times, but can they work together to save a 4,000-year-old secret from getting into the wrong hands?

 

LINKS & RESEARCH
Internet Movie Database additional information