Simon Magus (film)
# Simon Magus (film)

Simon Magus is a 1999 British historical mystery drama film directed by Ben Hopkins and starring Noah Taylor and Stuart Townsend. It was entered into the 49th Berlin International Film Festival.

## Background

The film is named for the village fool Simon (Noah Taylor), who is in turn named for the 1st century magician Simon Magus.

## Plot

In 19th century Poland, a Jew named Dovid Bendel (Stuart Townsend) tries to revive his dwindling shtetl village by building a railway station next to it. The squire (Rutger Hauer) agrees to provide the land, on the condition that Dovid will read his poetry. A cunning business man (Sean McGinley) is also interested in the land and he tries to compete using money and threats. Through this all wanders the outcast Simon (Noah Taylor), a man rumoured to have magical powers.

## Cast

* Stuart Townsend as Dovid Bendel
* Noah Taylor as Simon Magus
* Rutger Hauer as Count Albrecht
* Embeth Davidtz as Leah
* Sean McGinley as Hase
* Ian Holm as Sirius/Boris/Head
* Terence Rigby as Bratislav
* Amanda Ryan as Sarah
* David de Keyser as Rabbi
* Toby Jones as Buchholtz
* Kathryn Hunter as Grandmother
* Walter Sparrow as Benjamin
* Jean Anderson as Roise
