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Original poster

AIBU to be surprised there is no proper film about the plague?

113 replies

AliceNotInChains · 28/05/2026 21:13

Would love to see a proper well done movie about the plague - AIBU to be suprised that it hasn’t been done?? Titanic style

OP posts:
ginasevern · 29/05/2026 11:22

@itsnotagameshow "I think you could make a great movie about the village that self isolated (Eyam in Derbyshire)."

There was an absolutely superb TV film made about it in 1973 called the Roses of Eyam. I saw it at the time and have watched it since.

Ygraine · 29/05/2026 11:18

There is a film from the 1990s about the plague reaching Mediaeval France. The Hour of the Pig, starring Colin Firth.

Fauxlein · 29/05/2026 10:41

The plague killes up tp 60% of Europes population, so it would be interesting to see a film explore the aftermath, a bit like starting an apocalypse film after the event has been over for a few years. But as PP have said, a film about losing 60% of the population is going to be harrowing!

BeardySchnauzer · 29/05/2026 10:36

MrsShawnHatosy · 29/05/2026 10:36

How about a film about the 1518 dancing plague of Strasbourg? People dancing themselves to death while singing a cheery number.

Lin manuel Miranda is the obvious choice

MrsShawnHatosy · 29/05/2026 10:36

How about a film about the 1518 dancing plague of Strasbourg? People dancing themselves to death while singing a cheery number.

TwoLeggedGrooveMachine · 29/05/2026 10:34

This has reminded me about a terrifying film for children I saw aged about age 6 or 7 called The Bells of Astercote (had to google the story line to find the name). Some children wander into a wood and when they touch old stones they are transported back to a village filled with plague victims. Proper creepy stuff.

MrsShawnHatosy · 29/05/2026 10:33

Thiswasanescapeplan · 28/05/2026 21:33

Plague, Actually 😷

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Four Weddings and a Mass Burial

Mochudubh · 29/05/2026 10:33

Daisydoesnt · 29/05/2026 07:51

I’m surprised the very readable “Turn of Midnight” by Minette Walters hasn’t been mentioned yet. It’s set in Dorset in a moated village which barricades itself in: the bubonic plague is thought to have landed in medieval England at Melcombe Regis, near Weymouth. It really brought to life for me what it might have been like as the plague ravaged the countryside, villages, people.

It doesn’t sound very promising but it’s a really interesting and entertaining read!!

Edited

I mentioned this upthread. I've just finished reading both The Last Hours and The Turn of Midnight and would love to see them on screen (as long as they don't muck around with the books too much).

As a slight aside, Minette Walters is an excellent historical novelist. I only discovered this recently as I thought she only wrote gory crime fiction which isn't my thing.

If you haven't read them @Daisydoesnt I'd also recommend The Swift and the Harrier and it's sequel The Players, set around the Civil War and the Restoration.

itsnotagameshow · 29/05/2026 10:31

OverlyFragrant · 29/05/2026 10:24

I think a film about the Village of Eyam would be brilliant.

Cross post! I agree!

itsnotagameshow · 29/05/2026 10:31

I think you could make a great movie about the village that self isolated (Eyam in Derbyshire). Apparently there's a couple of musicals in existence about it! Eyam - Wikipedia

Eyam - Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eyam

Shithotlawyer · 29/05/2026 10:29

Thiswasanescapeplan · 29/05/2026 07:11

Runaway from The Bride

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Spotty Woman

BeardySchnauzer · 29/05/2026 10:24

OverlyFragrant · 29/05/2026 10:24

I think a film about the Village of Eyam would be brilliant.

Just don’t let emerald fennell near it

OverlyFragrant · 29/05/2026 10:24

I think a film about the Village of Eyam would be brilliant.

viques · 29/05/2026 10:18

cariadlet · 29/05/2026 06:37

There were a lot of witch trials.

The Crucible was based on the Salem Witch trials, not the Pendle ones. Arthur Miller didn't change the names of the real life protagonists although he did change some of the ages and relationships. From memory, he made one of the girls older to allow for a relationship between her and John Proctor.

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I stand corrected. 😷

Foraor · 29/05/2026 08:57

AllTheChaos · 29/05/2026 00:22

Is that the one where she can’t speak the local language at first as the translation implant has gone wrong? With the priest who sort of falls in love with her, helps care for the sick then dies himswlf? If so thank you - I’ve been trying to remember the name of the book for ages without success!

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Yes, that’s the one, @AllTheChaos. It’s not the translation implant that’s gone wrong, just that the contemporary scholars simply didn’t know enough about the language as it was used then to programme it, until it picked up more material once Kivrin actually arrived (because the whole period had been barred for time travel as too dangerous.) And yes, sweet Father Roch falls for her but also thinks she’s a saint sent by god to help them.

Pearshapedpear · 29/05/2026 07:54

Thiswasanescapeplan · 28/05/2026 21:33

Plague, Actually 😷

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Genius @Thiswasanescapeplan

Daisydoesnt · 29/05/2026 07:51

I’m surprised the very readable “Turn of Midnight” by Minette Walters hasn’t been mentioned yet. It’s set in Dorset in a moated village which barricades itself in: the bubonic plague is thought to have landed in medieval England at Melcombe Regis, near Weymouth. It really brought to life for me what it might have been like as the plague ravaged the countryside, villages, people.

It doesn’t sound very promising but it’s a really interesting and entertaining read!!

CaptainMyCaptain · 29/05/2026 07:38

CaragianettE · 28/05/2026 21:37

I’m not sure how you would do a big sweeping romantic drama about the plague? Titanic really lent itself to spectacle, all the glamour and luxury then the spectacle and drama of the iceberg collision. Wasn’t the plague mostly people having to stay barricaded in their houses so they wouldn’t die in extremely horrible ways? I can see a horror movie being made about it, I’m not really seeing ‘Titanic’? Where would the romance come in?

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The romance:
Lost love of Rowland Torre and Emmott Sydall | Stoney Middleton Heritage https://share.google/2ZeS4K7atEkgERfya

Lost love of Rowland Torre and Emmott Sydall | Stoney Middleton Heritage

A story of heartbreak concerning Emmott Sydall and Rowland Torre, separated from one another when the village of Eyam quarantined itself during an outbreak of the Plague, meeting daily at a distance they would shout to eachother until one day when all...

https://smhccg.org/folklore-legends/lost-love-of-rowland-torre-and-emmott-sydall/

LottieMary · 29/05/2026 07:19

LegallyBlondish · 28/05/2026 21:42

The Roses of Eyam - a 1970s adaptation of a play based around true facts. I remember watching it as a child. I did a history degree back in the olden days & I find this era, and this particular story, to be fascinating.

I actually love this play
performed it at school and as a teacher occasionally bring it out when I have a spare week and we all do a read through. They get weirdly into wondering who will die next (there’s about 30 roles!) haven’t done it post Covid though….

Thiswasanescapeplan · 29/05/2026 07:16

AliceNotInChains · 29/05/2026 06:37

That’s another one that would make a great film!

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@AliceNotInChains according to @Notmyreality you don't "really mean it" when you asked about plague films 😭

Thiswasanescapeplan · 29/05/2026 07:11

MyAutumnCrow · 29/05/2026 00:11

She’s got a whole catalogue ahead of her.

Septic Pizza
Seeping with the Enemy
Dying Young

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Runaway from The Bride

5128gap · 29/05/2026 06:56

fandjango · 28/05/2026 23:36

This is me too. I was petrified of contracting the plague from the dirty parts of the school playground at 6. Drove my parents mad as was constantly washing!

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We had to do this play about Eyam. I remember having to say "Doesn't the air smell sweet tonight?" I became obsessed with whether I could smell anything sweet.

Original poster
AliceNotInChains · 29/05/2026 06:37

canuckup · 29/05/2026 02:10

There isn't one about the Pendle witch trials either

That’s another one that would make a great film!

OP posts:
cariadlet · 29/05/2026 06:37

viques · 29/05/2026 02:16

The Crucible. Though names might have been changed to protect the innocent. And a slight location variance as well, but that’s the wonder of cinema, you can do things to history that make historians go into a corner and gibber. Think Braveheart.

Show quote history

There were a lot of witch trials.

The Crucible was based on the Salem Witch trials, not the Pendle ones. Arthur Miller didn't change the names of the real life protagonists although he did change some of the ages and relationships. From memory, he made one of the girls older to allow for a relationship between her and John Proctor.

viques · 29/05/2026 02:16

canuckup · 29/05/2026 02:10

There isn't one about the Pendle witch trials either

The Crucible. Though names might have been changed to protect the innocent. And a slight location variance as well, but that’s the wonder of cinema, you can do things to history that make historians go into a corner and gibber. Think Braveheart.