Macbeth – BBC Shakespeare Retold

Students’ questions

Characterisation

 Does Joe Macbeth seem as evil as the Macbeth from Shakespeare’s text?  Is Ella as manipulative as Lady Macbeth?  How does Ella manipulate Joe?  Why does Joe let Ella persuade him to kill Duncan, even when he is clearly tormented by the thought of it?  Why are the ‘witches’ portrayed as garbage men in the film?  What do the garbage men prophesy for Joe and Billy?  What do the other characters in the kitchen think about Joe?  What links are there between the dialogue in the film and in Shakespeare’s text?

Relationships

 How is the closeness of the characters (Joe Macbeth and Ella) reflected in the film (up to Duncan’s murder)?  How is the audience supposed to respond to the main characters?  Do you think some of the relationships in the film are false? Why?  How significant are gestures made by the characters?  Comment on the relationship between Joe Macbeth and Ella.  Comment on the relationship between Joe and Duncan.  Comment on the relationship between Ella and Duncan.  Comment on the relationship between Joe and Billy Banquo.  Why does Ella flirt with Duncan?  How do Joe and Ella each respond to Duncan’s declaration (that he is leaving the restaurant to Malcolm)?  Does the relationship between Joe and Ella differ to the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in Shakespeare’s text?

Themes

 What themes are explored in the first half of the film?  Comment on betrayal in the film.  Comment on love in the film.  What is the most significant theme in the film?  How must Joe feel when Duncan takes the credit for his work? (When the diners ask to see the chef.)  How is friendship portrayed?

Stagecraft

 Does the setting make the events more or less sinister than the text version of the play?  How does the use of lighting affect the overall atmosphere?  How does using close-ups with pauses make the dialogue more effective?  What effect does the occasional music have?  Comment on the effect of different shots and camera angles.  Why has the play been set in a London restaurant?  How does the setting influence the characters’ behaviour?

Miscellaneous

 What is the significance in the warning to not mention the ‘Scottish chef’?