Nostradamus (1994 film)

Nostradamus is a 1994 biographical historical drama film directed by Roger Christian and starring Tchéky Karyo in the title role as the 16th-century French apothecary and reputed seer, Michel de Nostredame, more commonly known as Nostradamus. The film depicts his life, from his early years studying medicine and astrology to his growing fame as a plague doctor and eventually his publishing of the prophetic book Les Prophéties.

The film attempts to portray the major events and relationships in Nostradamus's life. It covers his medical work during the plague, his marriage to Anne Ponsarde and the subsequent loss of his family to the disease, and his later marriage to Anne Gemelle. It also explores the evolving perception of Nostradamus, showing him facing skepticism and accusations of heresy while also gaining the patronage of Catherine de' Medici.

While based on historical figures and events, the film takes significant creative liberties in its depiction of Nostradamus's life and prophecies. The film aims to present a dramatic interpretation rather than a strictly factual account. The accuracy of events and the interpretation of Nostradamus's prophecies within the film are subjects of debate and should be viewed within the context of a fictionalized dramatization. The film also stars F. Murray Abraham, Rutger Hauer, Amanda Plummer, and Julia Ormond.