The Twelve Tasks of Asterix - Cultural and Historical References in The Film

Cultural and Historical References in The Film

• Unlike in the books, Romans aren't aware that the Gauls have the magic potion which suggest that the movie takes place in a different continuity than the books.
• During his introduction scene Asterix says "Hello” in various languages (English, Japanese, German etc.) while the flags of the countries are shown. As the flag of France appears Asterix makes a rooster-like sound. This is a reference to the fact that the rooster is a national symbol of France.
• Caesar's senate features Brutus, who constantly plays with a knife. Caesar remarks: "Stop playing with that knife, you'll end up hurting someone!" which is ironic due to the fact that Brutus was one of the men who killed the historical Caesar.
• The "place that sends you mad" is not all that anachronistic. The Roman empire, especially its later eastern part (Byzantium) was famous for its overly complicated and heavy bureaucracy. All that red tape was partly responsible for the empire's fall.
• Much like the books, the movie uses Latin quotes (in this case “Post equitem sedet atra cura” and “Ave Caesar, morituri te salutant!”) Note that Romans in "The place that send you mad" use a lot of Latin terms in their dialog - for example, they use "Cubiculum" instead of "Bedroom".
• Cylindric the German is actually pretty sympathetic, and a jolly-friendly German stereotype, as opposite to the cruel war-like goths Asterix meet in the books.
• Calorifix's colossal meal includes a side-dish of fries, which he claims to have invented despite potatoes not being present in Europe at the time. He refers to them as "earth-apples", the literal French translation of potatoes ("pommes de terre"). They are referred to as being like 'wood chips, but grow raw in the ground' in the English dub.
• During the "Place that sends you mad” sequence, a Roman woman mention an aqueduct collapsing in to ruin, and notes that it looks lovely. This is a reference to actual collapse aqueduct near Rome.
• Much like in many Asterix books Pierre Tchernia's caricature appears, this time as the Roman Prefect in the "Place that sends you mad" sequence.
• While insane, Obelix breaks the arms off of the famous statue of Venus.
• The Goddess Venus (while appearing among other Gods) is in fact the caricature of French actress Brigitte Bardot.
• One of the people Asterix and Obelix see before they enter the "Place that sends you mad" is based upon Napoleon.
• At one point a chicken lays some bizarre looking eggs. One is in the shape of Donald Duck's head. Note that the scene was cut in some versions due to copyright problems.
• The movie is one of few rare examples of Cacofonix the bard hurting Fulliautomatix the blacksmith. (The only time he did this in comics are Asterix and the Roman Agent and Asterix and the Secret Weapon, however here is the only time he did it in self-defence.)
• Near the end of the movie you can notice the sign "Via Asterixa" (this is a reference to Roman road "Via Latina").
• During the final banquet Asterix is seen eating a Mimolette.