Coriolanus: not a review

[hawkwing_lb]

Ralph Fiennes' Coriolanus (he both directs and plays the title role) is a film adaptation of Shakespeare's play of the same name, The Tragedy of Coriolanus. The language of the play is itself only lightly adapted, but the costumes and setting have been adapted to 20th-century: Fiennes' Caius Martius Coriolanus and Gerard Butler's Aufidius the Volscian are soldiers of a Rome and a Volscia that bear a marked resemblence to modern day small warring states - shot partly in Serbia, it's hard to avoid feeling that the film's physical landscape reinforces the Balkanised sentiments of its theme.

Messengers' speeches are not infrequently delivered by television announcers - and damn, Shakespeare's messengers sound natural on the announcers' tongues - and the Roman Senate is framed almost as a modern parliament. Coriolanus' mother wears military uniform in the more formal scenes, which lends pointedness to her speeches -

"I mock at death
With as big heart as thou. Do as thou list
Thy valiantness was mine, thou suck'dst it from me,
But owe thy pride thyself"

- in particular. It is a film filled with solid performances, and an interesting take on staging Shakespeare. Definitely worth a look.

Comments

[hawkwing-lb.livejournal.com]

I was also on the fence, and borrowed it from the internets. Now I want my own copy.

[nwhyte]

I've been hoping that this would turn out OK - Coriolanus wins my vote for most underappreciated Shakespeare play. I fear it may not reach Belgium any time soon though.

[hawkwing-lb.livejournal.com]

It turned out pretty damn fine.

[helivoy.livejournal.com]

The transposition to contemporary times was done extremely well -- and of course the performances were stellar.

[hawkwing-lb.livejournal.com]

I actually thought Fiennes fluffed it a bit in his first speech - Coriolanus vs. the people, he didn't seem to get at the heart of the thing. But in general I couldn't agree more.

[rysmiel.livejournal.com]

It had me at the "Fidelis TV" logo.

Also, Vanessa Redgrave was just terrifying.

[hawkwing-lb.livejournal.com]

She really, really was. Now that's a Roman matron to raise sons for war.