Macbeth Macbeth (2015) Is an Adaptation of William Shakespeare’S Story of a Good and Potentially Great Man Brought Low by Ambition
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© ATOM 2015 A STUDY GUIDE BY KATY MARRINER http://www.metromagazine.com.au ISBN: 978-1-74295-615-2 http://www.theeducationshop.com.au Macbeth Macbeth (2015) is an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s story of a good and potentially great man brought low by ambition. Directed by Justin Kurzel, from a screenplay by Jacob Koskoff, Todd Louiso and Michael Lesslie, Macbeth stars Michael Fassbender as Macbeth and Marion Cotillard as Lady Macbeth. The film premiered in official competition at Cannes 2015. Justin Kurzel Curriculum links DIRECTOR Macbeth is suitable viewing • analyse the representa- Justin Kurzel’s background as one of Australia’s best for students in Years 10 – 12. tion of ideas and atti- theatrical designers informs his strong visual storytell- It can be used as a resource tudes in Shakespeare’s ing as a director. in English, Literature and and Kurzel’s Macbeth to Media. consider how the texts Kurzel’s VCA graduating short, Blue Tongue, was represent the world and screened in over 13 international films festivals In English, Literature and human experience; including International Critic’s Week at the Cannes Media students are expected • develop the ability to Film Festival, New York Film Festival and won Best to discuss the meaning write analytic responses Short at Melbourne International Film Festival. His derived from texts, the to Kurzel’s Macbeth; first feature film Snowtown, produced by Warp Films relationship between texts, • hone their oral commu- Australia premiered at Adelaide Film Festival in 2011, the contexts in which texts nication skills through winning the Audience Award. Kurzel was awarded are produced and read, discussion of and debate Best Director at the AACTA Awards. The film has been and the experiences the about Kurzel’s Macbeth. released in the US, UK and most European countries, reader brings to the texts. screening in over 15 international festivals includ- The Macbeth study guide Many of the activities in this ing Toronto in 2011 and International Critics Week in supports students to achieve study guide assume a knowl- Cannes in 2012, being awarded Special Distinction of these aims by undertaking a edge and understanding of the President. close reading of the text. Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Teachers are recommended Kurzel also directs commercials and music videos. The activities in this study to provide excerpts from The Earth Hour campaign won a Titanium award at guide provide opportunities Shakespeare’s Macbeth Cannes Lions in 2007 while his British Council spot 2015 © ATOM SCREEN EDUCATION for students to: to support the learning of won bronze the same year. His music video for The students who do have prior Mess Hall single ‘Pulse’ won Best Music Clip and • appreciate the aes- knowledge of the source Audience Award at St Kilda Film Festival and ‘Keep thetic quality of Kurzel’s text. The quoted dialogue Walking’ for the same band won Best Music Clip Macbeth; from Macbeth (2015) has of the Year in the Sydney Morning Herald. Kurzel • read closely and engage been written as prose rather adapted and directed Boner McPharlin’s ‘Moll’, which in detailed critical analy- than verse. forms part of a feature film comprising the adapta- sis of Kurzel’s Macbeth; tions of the short stories in Tim Winton’s The Turning. 2 Synopsis Following a fierce battle in which Macbeth, Thane banquet, and his preoccupation soon turns to ter- of Glamis and loyal general of King Duncan’s ror as the ghost of Banquo appears in the midst of forces, has finally killed Macdonwald, a traitor and the feast; a silent bloody spectre. Macbeth’s wild leader of rebel forces, he and fellow soldier Banquo fear is incomprehensible to everyone else so a des- encounter three women scavenging among the fall- perate Lady Macbeth calls an end to the banquet en soldiers. The women foretell that Macbeth will and shepherds Macbeth away from his guests. become Thane of Cawdor and King of Scotland, Macbeth has a Macduff and his wife have already expressed while Banquo will be the father of future kings. run time of their disapproval and defiance of the new King by Both men are unnerved by the prophecies but for 113 minutes. abruptly leaving. the moment appear not to believe them. That night, Macbeth steals out of Dunsinane and At the battlefield campsite, Angus and Rosse ar- seeks out the strange women again. After induc- rive from the King’s court to pass on thanks from Cast ing him into a drugged stupor, they tell him that their royal master for the success in battle and to Macbeth: his throne is safe until Birnam Wood comes to bestow upon Macbeth the title Thane of Cawdor. Michael Fassbender Dunsinane, and he will not die by the hand of any The previous holder of the title has been killed for man born of a woman. This seemingly impossible treachery against the crown. Lady Macbeth: prediction brings a measure of relief to Macbeth. Marion Cotillard When Macbeth goes to pay homage to the King, However once he learns that Macduff has gone to Duncan tells him that he has made arrangements Banquo: England to join with Malcolm, who has raised an to visit his home at Inverness to celebrate the vic- Paddy Considine English army to claim back his throne, Macbeth tory. At Inverness, a letter from Macbeth arrives, exacts revenge by having Macduff’s wife and three informing Lady Macbeth of the prophecy. Lady Malcolm: young children hunted down and publicly killed. Macbeth, who has not seen her husband over Jack Reynor Unable to trust anyone, and increasingly drawn the long years of war and is grieving the loss of down the path of tyranny, Macbeth begins to kill their only child, feels the seed of an idea grow in Duncan: any who he fears might oppose him. her mind. She plans for her husband to kill King David Thewlis Duncan so that they can assume the throne. Lady Macbeth, meanwhile, has been slowly driven Macduff: mad by her guilt in the wake of killing Duncan and Arriving home, Macbeth is at first reluctant to do Sean Harris the realisation that she has lost her husband, just harm to Duncan, but Lady Macbeth’s persuasion like she once lost a child. Unable to escape her and Duncan’s announcement that his callow son Lady Macduff: grief, and unable to make any connection with Malcolm will succeed him spur him to act. After Elizabeth Debicki the husband she loves so much, she returns to feasting and drinking liberally, Duncan retires to Inverness seeking absolution. She dies soon after. bed, unaware that Lady Macbeth has drugged Rosse: his guards. While Inverness sleeps, Macbeth Ross Anderson Alone now but for his hired mercenaries, Macbeth kills Duncan. Surprised after the act by Malcolm, learns that many of his thanes are deserting him Macbeth is at the mercy of the young Prince, but Lennox: to join Malcolm’s approaching army. As the army Malcolm loses his nerve and flees Inverness. David Hayman reaches Birnam Wood, they set it alight. Charred leaves and bark are carried on the wintry winds to- When Macduff discovers Duncan’s body the next Menteith: wards Dunsinane. Macbeth realises the first part of morning, Macbeth immediately slays his attend- Maurice Roëves the prophecy is coming true. Undaunted, he calls ants, not out of rage and grief as he says, but in for his armour and reawakens the soldier within. order to silence them. To everyone else, it ap- Macdonwald: Hilton McRae pears that Malcolm has been the chief conspirator. Summoning his remaining forces around him, he Macbeth, taking advantage of the confusion and leaves the safety of the castle to face Malcolm’s Witches: grief caused by Duncan’s death, and marshalling army, which is led by a vengeful Macduff. Macbeth Seylan Baxter, his popularity amongst the people, is crowned knows that it is over, that he cannot fight the Lynn Kennedy, King of Scotland. Banquo, however, has suspi- prophecy that he has embraced as his destiny. Amber Rissmann cions of his own based on their encounter with Surrounded by the ghosts of those he has killed, the prophetic women. Despite now seemingly Macbeth is finally able to see where his ambition 2015 © ATOM SCREEN EDUCATION Fleance: secure and crowned in Duncan’s former royal seat has led him, and gives himself over to his inevitable Lochlann Harris at Dunsinane, Macbeth senses Banquo’s doubts death. and orders his murder, and that of his young son Angus: Fleance. James Harkness As Malcolm enters Dunsinane to claim back the throne, a child steals onto the battle ground and As Macbeth sits down to a feast that night he Seyton: finds Macbeth’s body. It is Fleance. Bending learns that while Banquo has been killed, Fleance Scott Dymond down, he takes Macbeth’s sword in his hands and escaped. He is unable to concentrate on the disappears. 3 Shakespeare’s Online ‘Macbeth’ resources Historical sources suggest that Shakespeare’s Teachers looking for resources that provide tragedy Macbeth was first performed between GLAMIS THOU an analysis of Shakespeare’s Macbeth are 1599 and 1606. The play was most likely writ- ART, AND advised to access the following websites: ten during the reign of James I. James was a CAWDOR; patron of Shakespeare’s acting company, and of AND SHALT Absolute Shakespeare – Macbeth all the plays Shakespeare wrote during James’s BE WHAT http://absoluteshakespeare.com/guides/ reign, Macbeth most clearly reflects the play- THOU ART macbeth/macbeth.htm wright’s relationship with the sovereign. PROMIS’D. BBC – GCSE Bitesize - Macbeth YET I DO FEAR http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ The earliest account of a performance of Macbeth THY NATURE.