The Voynich Code – The World’s Most Mysterious Manuscript Movie Review (2010)
A short documentary about the elusive Voynich manuscript, this film does a nice job of introducing the indecipherable book as well as the theories that surround who created it and when.
Decoding ciphers has long been a hobby for many. We see references to ciphers in books and movies like The Da Vinci Code or Zodiac, and in easier form, we see websites and puzzle paperbacks dedicated to the fun. But some codes seem absolutely indecipherable, which is where this documentary starts.
The Voynich Code – The World’s Most Mysterious Manuscript is a short film about the Voynich book, which is 240 pages filled with hand painted illustrations and words that (currently) baffle historians and researchers. There are many theories for what it could be and what it could all mean, many of which are covered by the academic elite in this documentary.
This is a great introduction to the Voynich manuscript. For someone who knows nothing about it, you learn what it is, get to see many of the actual illustrations and printed text, and are exposed to various leaders in the industry. There is also a demonstration of how they’ve found the ability to flip some of the pictures quickly to show what is similar to a tiny cartoon with movement.
Two different experiments are conducted to prove the authenticity of the materials used (paint and parchment) and the results are revealed in the film. There are also several historical recreations surrounding the possible writers and what their motives would have been along with information from the historians who believe these specific theories.
The main issue with this film is that it could easily have been longer and contained much more information. This may have been intended as an introduction (I am not sure), but even without having solved the mysteries attached, you know that there is a lot more research and theory out there that could have been included.
I found myself wanting more. Provide more details about each theory, expand on why certain hypotheses have been shot down, talk about what future technology could look at – just more.
I did very much enjoy the information presented in this doc and it was communicated in a very easy way to digest, it just left me wanting to do further research on my own. This is not unusual for me in general, but I would have loved it if they could have given more leads. It’s a fascinating subject, but this film is likely only skimming the surface.
Runtime: 50 minutes
Motion Picture Rating: Not Rated
Languages Spoken In The Film: English
Should You Watch It? Yes
Did I Cry? Nope
My Rating: 2.75/5 Stars
Available: Free on Prime Video and YouTube, or may be available for free on other streaming platforms
