Time for the pharmacist: Melchior Wakenstede is not only known as a healer, but can also talk to the dead and solve complicated criminal cases. More often than not, intrigue, magic and power games are involved in this atmospherically gripping medieval crime film trilogy full of both mythical tension and rational investigative work.
Elmo Nüganen's crime trilogy is based on the bestselling novels from Indrek Hargla, which have been translated into five languages, including German. Hargla was also involved in writing the script. All three parts were shot at the same time. They are set to the historical backdrop of the Estonian capital Tallinn, home to one of the best-preserved medieval city ensembles in Europe. All three films were released within a year of each other and soon became hits amongst domestic audiences after their theatrical release. The second part MELCHIOR THE APOTHECARY: THE GHOST drew 20,181 viewers on its opening weekend in Estonia in mid-August, whilst the first part sold 125,000 tickets between April and August 2022.
Kammerbühne: Original version with English subtitles and simultaneous German translation.
Glad-House/Obenkino: original version with English subtitles
Indrek Hargla, Elmo Nüganen, Olle Mirme
Mihkel Soe E.S.C.
Horret Kuus, Henri Kuus
Matis Mäesalu
Liina Sumera
Märten Metsaviir, Maarja Johanna Mägi, Alo Kõrve, Karl Robert Saaremäe, Ott Raidmets
Jānis Kalējs, Lukas Trimonis, Philipp Kreuzer, Diana Mikita
Elmo Nüganen - is an Estonian film and theatre director and actor. From 1992-2021, he was the artistic director of Tallinn City Theatre. His debut as a film director and screenwriter was Names in Marble in 2002 with Taska Film, which brought approximately 170 000 people to the cinemas and held the number 1 title of admissions among Estonian films until 2016. Nüganen’s filmography also includes Mindless (2006) and 1944 (2015), both with Taska Film. The latter became the country’s submission for the Academy Awards in 2015. With the Melchior the Apothecary trilogy, Nüganen continues his theme of historic films, based on best-selling and internationally acclaimed novels written by Indrek Hargla.