The Wicker Man ... The sixties cult film "The Wicker Man" (is the reference point to this design by Richerd Mullard ... [LINK]. However, the resonance is altogether gentler and atuned to nature. Burial in wicker coffins is now well established among those seeking an (ecological) alternative to standard coffins. Paul Weir, a professional basket maker, from Bedfordshire, has remade "The Wicker Man" using traditional methods found in English basketry.
A 'wicker man' was a large wicker statue reportedly used by the ancient Druids – Celtic pagan priests – for sacrifice by burning it in effigy, according to Julius Caesar in his Commentarii de Bello Gallico (Commentary on the Gallic War). Roman focused 'scholarship' has challenged and fonds that human sacrifice by the Celts is at at least speculative. It suggests that Greek and Roman narratives with negative undertones set out to disdain for the barbarians. There is no credible evidence of the practices Julius Caesar describes. Interestingly, the stories of human sacrifice appear to be derived from a single source, Poseidonius, unsupported by credible evidence.
Nonetheless, archaeological evidence from Ireland suggests that human sacrifice may have been practiced in times pre-dating Rome times. Human remains have been found at the foundations of structures from the Neolithic time to the Roman era. These remains carry evidence of injuries and circumstance that suggest that there may be a foundation sacrifices but all this is nonetheless changeable.
In modern times, 'wicker men' are used for various events. The figure turns up for festivals as part of some 'neopagan' rituals and performances. However, they lack the human sacrifice element albeit that in some circumstances it is euphemistically invoked. 'Wicker Man Effigies' of this kind have been used as elements in performance art, as displays at music festivals, as reference material, etc. "The Wicker Man", is the focal point of the cult British horror film The Wicker Man. The prominence of 'Wicker Man Effigies' in modern popular culture, and the wide general awareness of the wicker man as structure and concept, is arguably attributable to subliminal 'cultural knowledge' in Western World contexts that in multidimensional, multicultural contexts are increasingly being exposed to alternative cultural imperatives.
The Wicker Man is a 1973 British mystery horror film directed by Robin Hardy. It stars Edward Woodward, Britt Ekland, Diane Cilento, Ingrid Pitt, and Christopher Lee. The screenplay by Anthony Shaffer, inspired by David Pinner's 1967 novel Ritual, centres on the visit of Police Sergeant Neil Howie to the isolated island of Summerisle, in search of a missing girl. Howie, a devout Christian, is appalled to find that the inhabitants of the island have abandoned Christianity and now practise a form of Celtic paganism. Paul Giovanni composed the film score.[4][5]
The Wicker Man is generally well-regarded by critics. Film magazine Cinefantastique described it as "The Citizen Kane of horror movies", and in 2004 Total Film magazine named The Wicker Man the sixth greatest British film of all time. It also won the 1978 Saturn Award for Best Horror Film, the burning Wicker Man scene was No. 45 on Bravo's 100 Scariest Movie Moments, and during the 2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony the film was included as part of a sequence that celebrated British cinema. In 2013, a copy of the original U.S. theatrical version was digitally restored and released.... Click here to watch the Trailer
The Wicker Man is a 2006 horror film written and directed by Neil LaBute and starring Nicolas Cage. It vw3as primarily is a remake of the 1973 British cult classic The Wicker Man, but also draws from its source material, David Pinner's 1967 novel Ritual [Link]. The film concerns a policeman named Edward Malus who is informed by his ex-fiancée Willow Woodward that her daughter Rowan has disappeared and asks for his assistance in her search. When he arrives at the island where Rowan was last seen he begins to suspect something sinister is afoot with the neo-pagans who reside on the island. The film received overwhelmingly negative reviews from film critics at the time of its release; critics pointed to the film's unintentional hilarity, weak acting, and poor screenwriting. The film was also a financial flop, grossing over $38 million against a $40 million production budget. Since its original release, it has developed a cult following as an entertaining unintentional comedy, particularly due to Cage's over-the-top performance. Cage dedicated the film to his friend Johnny Ramone, the guitarist of the band The Ramones, who had died in 2004. .... Click here for the Trailer
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