I was very excited about
going to see the newest outing of William Shakespeare's Macbeth by Justin Kurzul because the trailer looked amazing. Yes, the acting is brilliant (no
question) and the scenery breathtaking. Visually all wonderful. But the rendering,
the STORY, that's what delighted me so. Kurzul directed as well as wrote the
screen play which is what I really want to talk about.
Here's where I might be a
bit different to a lot of Shakespeare fans, and The Tragedy of Macbeth fans in
particular because
- I have taught this play almost every year for 27 years (and I studied it myself at high school) I have seen the magnificent and bloody Polanski film as many times
- I have seen it performed on stage often (the best was with Michael Hurst as Macbeth)
- I have staged two productions with my students
- I have written a teaching play text for high schools
- I have written a 15 mins version
But, although I may have
written the sequel, after viewing Kurzul's film, I feel like he has written my
prequel.
To do what we both have done is
to have a profound understanding of the play and Shakespeare's intent and
Kurzul, IMHO, has done this:
- he got the man, Macbeth,
- he got the pull of family,
- he showed Macduff and Banquo as I often feel they are not portrayed:
Macduff’s anguished response to the young Malcolm who tells him to 'dispute it
like a man' goes to the very heart of character, the very heart of humanness
and proves Bloom's assertion of Shakespeare's that he nails every human
condition. Macduff spits back at Malcolm
I
shall do so;
But I must also feel it as a man: (Act 4, sc 3)
showing the great heart of
the character that he was in Shakespeare’s play but also, the performance by
Sean Harris showed the promised of the older man he was to become (and which I
imagined for my novel).
But, of course, it was to
Banquo and his son Fleance that I was most (almost nervously) keen to see.
There is a wonderful depth to the relationship. Fleance never speaks but he is often
present and the ending is as many people said, ‘setting up to a sequel.’ This
is another example of how I believe Kurzul has understood the play: "all the
world’s a stage...." and this play was but one part of the stage (pun on the
word above); that the story did not actually finish with Macbeth’s death.
Many people have spoken of
the PTSD shown by the characters and that is as it should be – this is a play
that so deeply explores the human condition and the reactions of the men (and
women) to trying circumstances – not all who suffer terribly go on to be
monsters or go mad but one must have some sympathy or at least understanding
for those who do.
The film challenges the
audience to do this.
Personally, I hope this
latest film directs interested people to my trilogy and I hope lovers of
Shakespeare look not for the differences or assumed inaccuracies but read it
for what it is: a story that seeks to find an answer to that question ‘what
must I do to secure happiness for myself and those I love?’
I went to see the film
knowing that I knew a lot but also understanding that to do the viewing
justice, I was not to compare to ‘the original’ rather to take the story as it
was presented to me.
I came out totally filled
with admiration and appreciation not only for Kurzul and his fabulous cast and
crew but for William Shakespeare once again.
