The Mists of Avalon (TV miniseries)
| The Mists of Avalon | |
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The Mists of Avalon DVD Cover
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| Based on |
The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley |
| Screenplay by | Gavin Scott |
| Story by | Marion Zimmer Bradley |
| Directed by | Uli Edel |
| Starring |
Anjelica Huston Julianna Margulies Joan Allen Samantha Mathis Edward Atterton Michael Vartan |
| Theme music composer | Lee Holdridge |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Gideon Amir Bernd Eichinger |
| Cinematography | Vilmos Zsigmond |
| Editor(s) | Michael H. Friedlander Benjamin A. Weissman |
| Running time | 183 minutes |
| Distributor | Turner Network Television |
| Release | |
| Original network | TNT |
| Original release | July 15, 2001 |
The Mists of Avalon is a 2001 miniseries based on the 1983 novel of the same name by Marion Zimmer Bradley. Produced by American cable channel TNT, adapted by Gavin Scott, and directed by Uli Edel the series is a retelling of the Arthurian legend with an emphasis on the perspectives of Morgan le Fay and other women of the tale. The first episode was the highest-rated original movie on basic cable in the summer of 2001.
The film begins with a battered, dirty, and injured Morgaine riding in a small boat through a misty river. Most of the film is a reflection through her eyes, with Morgaine as narrator.
In the beginning of the film, the Saxons are invading Britain. It is noted that a strong king is needed to unite Pagans and Christians and defeat the Saxons before Avalon, the island central to the pagan priestesses who worship the Three-fold Goddess (Maiden, Mother and Crone), and who are the female counterparts to the male Druids, and Britain are lost. Morgaine is eight-years-old, living with her pagan mother Igraine and Christian father Gorlois. Igraine's younger sister, Morgause, lives with them too. One day, their oldest sister, Viviane, the Lady of the Lake, High Priestess of Avalon, along with the Merlin, current holder of the title of the chief Druid, come to Igraine with a prophecy that she will bear the Pagan/Christian king who is destined to beat the Saxons. Igraine is distressed after being told that the child will not be Gorlois', and she refuses to bear the heir. Merlin explains that the father of the great king would be wearing a dragon on his arm, but Igraine will not listen. Suddenly, little Morgaine has a vision, seeing her father dead. Viviane is pleased yet concerned that Morgaine has "the Sight", as this gift so revered by her people is considered evil and unnatural by the Christians.
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