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Roman Polanski’s sharp and brutal version of the Shakespearean tragedy is stunning, mesmerising and brutal. A blood-stained visual palette allows Polanski to imbue the drama with his own metaphysical obsessions. The films stays true to the Shakespearean narrarive but it also stands on its own as a film about darkness and power and lust. The brutal slaying of Polanski’s wife, Sharon Tate, by Charles Manson obviously affected the direction of the film, as did the savagery in Vietnam. By forcing the viewer to confront the violence implicit in Shakespeare’s play, this version of “Macbeth” extends the dimensions of the tragedy. It is not only Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s destruction we witness. With unrelenting and hypnotic images, Polanski makes us confront the savagery of medieval Europe. Starring Jon Finch, Francesca Annis, Martin Shaw, Nicholas Selby and John Stride.
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How to watch
Collection
In ACMI's collection
Credits
Collection metadata
ACMI Identifier
306526
Language
English
Audience classification
MA
Subject categories
Feature films → Feature films - Great Britain
Literature → English literature - Film and video adaptations
Sound/audio
Captioned
Colour
Colour
Holdings
VHS; Access Print (Section 1)