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@kyle.watches.films
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Adapted from a 19th Century Russian novella and filmed and set in rural Northumberland, on the face of it 2016’s ‘Lady Macbeth’ has nothing to do with Shakespeare. But as the film plays out the link becomes clearer in this captivating portrait of a woman who will do whatever it takes to achieve what she wants.
In 1865 Katherine (Florence Pugh) is forced into a loveless and sexless marriage with the much older Alexander Lester (Paul Hilton). Forced to abide by strict household rules by her husband and father-in-law, Boris (Christopher Fairbank), Katherine finds solace in a love affair with stablehand Sebastian (Cosmo Jarvis). But as rumours of her infidelity spread she takes increasingly drastic actions in an attempt to take control of her life.
From the opening scene it is clear that this film, despite being only her second feature performance, belongs to Pugh. Initially making us sympathetic to Katherine with her unaffected naïveté, the character's development into the self-serving, manipulative, and (not without reason) bitter wife is subtle and effective. Her cobalt blue dress, clashing sharply with the house’s muted environment, immediately marks Katherine as out of place, and it is only when she is walking the moors, in softer-coloured outdoor cloths, that she appears truly relaxed and at home. Pugh’s performance throughout is pitch perfect, her repressed thoughts almost readable in her quiet facial expressions and interactions with other characters.
Pugh is not alone in putting up a great performance - the entire cast is exceptional. Particular highlights include Jarvis, who earnestly portrays Sebastian’s transition from infatuation with Katherine to becoming increasingly horrified at the things she is willing to do. Similarly, Naomi Ackie stands out as the browbeaten maid Anna, who literally cannot voice her terror and disgust at what she is seeing unfold within the house.
Coming in at just under 90 minutes the film is perfectly paced with never a dull moment. And if the sharp script and excellent plotting isn’t reason enough, the career-making performance from Pugh makes ‘Lady Macbeth’ a must-see.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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