The Ritman Library - Amsterdam

Documentary Film

Runtime: 90 min

Filmmakers: Sara Ferro & Chris Weil

Featuring: Joost Ritman, Esther Ritman, Cis van Heertum, José Bouman, Marco Pasi

Watch legendary first editions, rare books, manuscripts and learn more about the hidden stories and secret symbols of Esotericism. Discover a library with over 23.000 books in the fields of Alchemy, Hermetica, Cabala, Magic, Rosicrucianism, and Mystic.

Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica: How old rare books about the divine essence of things, the hidden reality behind the curtain of visible life can be the first companions for a soul seeking for an inner path of spirituality and how this path can be as well of cosmological nature, bringing to the comprehension of the intimate relationship between Microcosmos and Macrocosmos.

How the rediscovery in older printings of betrayed knowledge and concealed truths can ignite a transcendent spark, help to pass a sort of mystical gate and find access to a circle of initiates. In a symbolical alchemical transmutation of the own reality.

How some ancient metaphysical Traditions can incorporate the Inviolable, Absolute and Permanent. How a certain particular world of bibliophiles and bibliomaniacs ticks, what motivate them and how to become comfortable with auction while you build up your library – and above all why to build up a library. Understanding books as an engine of cultural revolutions and as a heritage of hard-fought theories and vexed authors, whom we can now enjoy freely.

The founder of the BPH Joost Ritman, the director of the library Esther Ritman, the bibliographical team with Cis van Heertum and José Bouman tell us about all this, while Dr. Marco Pasi from the University of Amsterdam narrates the wonderful and captivating history of Western Esotericism.

Watch legendary first editions, rare books and manuscripts like the famous Fama Fraternitatis, Corpus Hermeticum, Tabula Smaragdina, Atalanta Fugiens, Spaccio della bestia trionfante, Plontin Polyglot Bible and discover incredible works of authors like Basilius Valentinus, Marsilio Ficino, Johannes Reuchlin, Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa von Nettesheim, Paracelsus, Giordano Bruno, Heinrich Khunrath, Michael Maier, Jacob Böhme, Lambspring, Robert Fludd, Daniel Mögling, Baruch Spinoza, Matthäus Merian and Stephan Michelspacher.

• 
  Special Screening
  Star Cinema
  DECENTRALAND
  Metaverse
  USA 2022
• 
  Nominee
  Best Film
  AIFF 2018
• 
  Nominee
  Best Story
  AIFF 2018
• 
  Nominee
  Best Director
  of a Feature
  Documentary
  AIFF 2018
• 
  Nominee
  Scientific
  Educational
  Award
  AIFF 2018
• 
  Official Selection
  Amsterdam
  International
  Filmmaker
  Festival
  AIFF 2018
• 
  Special Screening
  Oerol
  Terschelling 2017
• 
  Official Selection
  DOCfeed
  Documentary
  Festival
  Eindhoven 2017
• 
  Official Selection
  Miami
  Independent
  Film Festival
  2017
• 
  Official Selection
  ARFF Berlin
  International
  Awards
  2017
• 
  Winner
  Best Project
  MedFF
  Siracusa 2016
• 
  Official Selection
  International
  Monthly
  Film Festival
  Copenhagen 2016