IMDb 6.5 2012 HD

Goltzius & the Pelican Company

Goltzius & the Pelican Company

2012
Comedy History
128 min NR United Kingdom
6.1 / 10
6.5 IMDB

Goltzius and the Pelican Company tells the story of Hendrik Goltzius, a late 16th century Dutch printer and engraver of erotic prints. A contemporary of Rembrandt and, indeed,…

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Peter Greenaway
Starring
F. Murray Abraham / Ramsey Nasr / Kate Moran / Pippo Delbono / Giulio Berruti / Lars Eidinger / Anne Louise Hassing / Flavio Parenti

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

provocative artistic historical erotic ambitious theatrical visual intellectual niche bold demanding sensual

Reviews

I
Isabelle Dubois
Apr 26, 2026
2.5 / 5
2.5

'Goltzius & the Pelican Company' is a film that wears its artistic aspirations on its sleeve, perhaps too heavily. While the premise of a 16th-century printer charming a Margrave with erotic biblical tales is rich with potential, the…

L
Liam O'Connell
Apr 26, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

This is a cinematic triumph that boldly confronts the intersection of art, faith, and desire. 'Goltzius & the Pelican Company' is a masterclass in historical recreation, immersing the viewer in the world of a printer whose ambition knew…

S
Sophia Chen
Apr 26, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

'Goltzius & the Pelican Company' presents a fascinating, albeit somewhat detached, portrait of a historical artist. The premise – Goltzius's scheme to print erotic biblical illustrations – is inherently intriguing, and the film certainly delivers on visual splendour.…

M
Marcus Bell
Apr 26, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

Hendrik Goltzius's life and work are brought to vivid, often provocative, life in 'Goltzius & the Pelican Company'. Ramsey Nasr embodies the artist with a compelling blend of cunning and creative fire, driving the narrative as he seeks…

E
Eleanor Vance
Apr 26, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

Peter Greenaway's 'Goltzius & the Pelican Company' is a visually arresting, if intellectually demanding, exploration of art, lust, and patronage in the late Renaissance. F. Murray Abraham delivers a performance of considerable gravitas as the titular printer, a…

FAQs

Absolutely. 'Goltzius & the Pelican Company' intricately explores the dynamic between artistic creation and political influence. Goltzius, the artist, must negotiate with the Margrave of Alsace, a figure of power, to finance his printing press and disseminate his work. The film illustrates how art, especially when infused with provocative themes, can be a tool for both seduction and control, with the artist seeking patronage and the patron seeking unique forms of entertainment and prestige.