Macbeth
In adapting Shakespeare's darkest work, director Roman Polanski consciously dispenses with stylized contrivance and theatricality. Shot on location in Wales and Northumberland, the look of the film is cold, gritty, and raw, creating a harsh sense of realism. As Macbeth, Jon Finch conveys the character's menace and ruthless hard edge. At first reserved and calculated, Finch plummets into paranoid dementia as his deeds catch up with him. Countering him is Martin Shaw as Banquo, who appropriately projects noble reason and sincerity.
Polanski pulls no punches in depicting the brutality of the time. There is little violence in the film overall, but what there is, is depicted with a stark and visceral realism. The attack on Banquo and Fleance is intense and effectively staged at first exhilarating as Banquo wards off the attackers, but finally horrific as he is brutally felled by an axe. The slaughter of MacDuff's family is the most disturbing scene in the film and is actually inspired by Polanski's real-life experiences with the SS as a child in the Krakow ghetto.
Macbeth's second encounter with the witches is spooky and disturbing, with the surreal quality of an acid trip. The final confrontation between MacDuff and Macbeth is impressively choreographed and bristles with tension and sweat. Polanski also adds an interesting epilogue to the story by showing Prince Donalbain as he happens upon the witches' coven and dismounts to investigatea suggestion that the cycle of treachery and bloodshed is a never-ending one.
Shakespeare's darkest exploration into man's base nature is brought to contorted life through Polanski's unique and introspective vision. This film ultimately proves one of the finest Shakespearian adaptations of all time.
Paul Andrew MacLean
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LadyJanet@RenaissanceMagazine.com