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Discover a library with over 23.000 books in the fields of Alchemy, Cabala, Hermetica, Magic, Mystic and Rosicrucianism.
Special Screening
Hermetic
International
Film Festival
Italy 2023
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
Filmmaker
Festival
Amsterdam 2018
Special Screening
Oerol
Terschelling 2017
Official Selection
DOCfeed
Documentary
Film Festival
Eindhoven 2017
Official Selection
Miami
Independent
Film Festival
Miami 2017
Semi-Finalist
ARFF
International
Film Festival
Berlin 2016
Official Selection
International
Monthly
Film Festival
Copenhagen 2016
Winner
Best Project
MedFF
Winter Edition
Siracusa 2016
The Ritman Library - Amsterdam
Genre: Documentary
Runtime: 90 min
Filmmakers:
Sara Ferro, Chris Weil
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.