Be honest. What do you really know about William Tell?
Although the legend of Tell still holds power in Europe, there are many in the West would would be unfamiliar with the depth of his tale. Maybe you’re aware of the famed ‘apple-shot’. Maybe, your frame of reference is localized to Rossinni’s William Tell Overture, a theme most famously used for The Lone Ranger. Either way, if you’re unaware of the impact of his story, Nick Hamm wants to change that with his new epic, William Tell.
Written and directed by Hamm, William Tell is inspired by the legendary tale of the titular hero and shares his story to a new generation. Here, Tell (Claes Bang) is a noble huntsman who’s only desire is to live a peaceful life with his wife and son on his Swiss farm. However, after the brutal Austrian Empire invades his homeland, Tell finds himself thrown into the epicenter of a revolution as he must fight for his family and the soul of his nation.
In many ways, William Tell feels like a classic Hollywood blockbuster. With grand battles and sweeping landscapes, Hamm ensures that his adventure has feels akin to Braveheart or, in some ways, Gladiator. With bodies lining the ground, each battle scene is brutal and bloody. Whether pelting people with arrows or stabbing with blades, Hamm makes the violence feel raw and personal.
And, it must be stated that the build up towards the inevitable ‘apple-shot’ feels absolutely epic.
Keeping his colour tones muted, Hamm’s world feels bleak and dirty. It’s gritty, grounded and absolutely ferocious. The villainous Austrians growl with rage at the Swiss farmers as they take lives without a second thought and demand subservience. Yet, the broken Swiss farmers are not to be outmatched in their ferocity either. (“There is a law that keeps us from our savage appetite… and that law is God’s law. But God has abandoned us, and that law is no more,” says Tell’s wife, Suna.)
Admittedly, much of the success of the film lies with Bang himself. As the titular hero, Bang remains focused in his performance. There is a fire in his eyes that burns furiously as he gradually accepts his role as leader to his people. Although he’s a reluctant warrior, Tell is shown here to be a man who steps into the fight when necessary. He yearns for the safety of his people yet struggles with his natural ability to kill.
But that’s also what makes his character most interesting. Tell is not depicted as a war-monger but a man who simply wants to live a peaceful existence. Once a mighty soldier, the burden of his past initially keeps him from entering the fray. As such, Bang plays Tell as a man of inner conflict.
It’s also worth noting that, despite its ancient setting, William Tell has modern sensibilities. Willing to fight for their country, women in this film are much more than ‘side characters’. There’s a strength and courage within them that not only buoys the men but causes them to partner with them. Furthermore, Tell’s apprehension about violence carries a conscience that keeps him admirable. (And, frankly, the tale of an arrogant despot who demands that everyone ‘bend the knee’ feels almost timely.)
And it’s this battle for the soul of the country that makes Hamm’s tale of Tell feel unique. For the Austrians, taking Switzerland for themselves feels like their right. Leaning into their beliefs of a vengeful God, they stake claim over the nation and its people. Their demand that they ‘bend the knee’ is more than gaining power. It’s about acknowledging their Divine authority.
Even so, as the Swiss rise up against them, there appears to be more on trial than their abilities with a sword. Instead, Tell and his people look to find a balance between standing up against oppression and giving in to revenge. Yet there’s a conflict within them as well. Though they’re fueled by rage, they also believe that this battle as the only means to achieve peace. (“Revenge might drive you but it also blinds you,” we’re told.) In essence, they are men and women who fight because they must, not because they want to do so. There’s something fascinating about this sort of modern tension between war and peace that feels current. There’s a conversation within William Tell about corruption in leadership and the public responsibility for accountability that feels almost ripped from the headlines.
Make no mistake though. William Tell is all about the action. This is the sort of old school historical epic that used to define Hollywood. And its balance of popcorn munching and political discourse makes it a film worth Tell-ing people about.
William Tell is available in theatres on Friday, April 4th, 2025. s
