Melchior the Apothecary

Set in medieval Tallinn, this historical crime thriller follows Melchior, a clever apothecary tasked by a local official to investigate the brutal murder of a famous knight. The victim was found decapitated with coins stuffed into his mouth and a gold chain missing. As Melchior digs deeper, he discovers the knight was searching for a mysterious prisoner, leading the investigation toward a Dominican monastery. This inquiry triggers a series of violent deaths, putting anyone who uncovers the secret in grave danger.

The film was directed by Elmo Nüganen, who also co-wrote the screenplay based on a novel by Indrek Hargla. This project follows Nüganen's 2015 film 1944 and serves as the first part of a trilogy. The production was a collaboration between Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, featuring a cast led by Märten Metsaviir as Melchior, alongside Alo Kõrve, Maarja Johanna Mägi, and Marko Matvere. The movie involved a crew of 227 people and a cast of 28 credited actors.

Audiences have responded positively to the film, which maintains a consistent rating of 6.8/10 on both IMDb, where it received 1,200 votes, and TMDB, with 18 votes.