AllMovie

Andre Delvaux directed this stylish, yet ultimately empty adaptation of a historical novel by Marguerite Yourcenar. Gian Maria Volonte leads the cast as Zenon, a Belgian doctor and alchemist in the 1500s. Zenon travels across Europe for many years hiding from the Inquisition, which eventually catches up with him when he returns to his native Brugge in disguise. The narrative is bolstered by some fine acting by Volonte and a notable supporting cast including Sami Frey, Marie-Christine Barrault, Marie-France Pisier, and Anna Karina, as well as excellent cinematography by Charlie Van Damme and Walter van den Ende.