Lady Macbeth (film)

Last updated

Lady Macbeth
Lady Macbeth (film).png
Theatrical release poster
Directed byWilliam Oldroyd
Screenplay by Alice Birch
Based on Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District
by Nikolai Leskov
Produced by Fodhla Cronin O'Reilly
Starring
Cinematography Ari Wegner
Edited byNick Emerson
Music by Dan Jones
Production
companies
Altitude Film Entertainment
Protagonist Pictures
iFeatures
Creative England
BBC Films
BFI
Sixty-Six Pictures
Distributed by Altitude Film Distribution
Release dates
  • 10 September 2016 (2016-09-10)(TIFF)
  • 28 April 2017 (2017-04-28)(United Kingdom)
Running time
89 minutes [1]
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget £500,000 [2]
Box office$5.4 million [3]

Lady Macbeth is a 2016 British period drama film directed by William Oldroyd and produced by Fodhla Cronin O'Reilly. Written for the screen by Alice Birch, it is based on the 1865 novella Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District by Nikolai Leskov. It stars Florence Pugh, Cosmo Jarvis, Paul Hilton, Naomi Ackie (in her film debut) and Christopher Fairbank. The plot follows a young woman who is stifled by her loveless marriage to a bitter man twice her age.

Contents

Lady Macbeth had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on 10 September 2016, and was released in the United Kingdom on 28 April 2017 by Altitude Film Distribution. It received positive reviews and has grossed $5.4 million worldwide.

Plot

In 1865, Katherine (Pugh) is in a loveless marriage to an older man, Alexander Lester (Hilton). They live at the estate of Alexander's father, Boris, in rural Northumberland in the North East of England. Katherine is forced to maintain a strict schedule and prevented from leaving the house. Boris scolds her for not giving Alexander a son, but Alexander's sexual interest in his wife seems to be limited to observing her naked body while he masturbates. One day, both Boris and Alexander have to leave the estate for separate business matters, leaving Katherine alone with the housemaid, Anna. For the first time in memory, she is free to explore the area to alleviate her boredom.

Katherine discovers Anna being suspended from the ceiling of an outbuilding in a sheet by the men who work on the land. They say they are weighing a sow. Katherine has the woman released. She is attracted to one of the men, Sebastian, and the next day encounters him again while out walking. When Sebastian comes to the house to visit Katherine, they begin an affair. Anna informs the local priest, who attempts to warn Katherine, but she sends him away. When Boris returns home, he finds his favourite wine has run out. He accuses Anna of drinking it and tells her to get on the floor on all fours: if she behaves as an animal, she will be treated as an animal. Katherine says nothing. Boris is later informed of the affair, beats Sebastian, and locks him in a stable. He strikes Katherine when she demands his release. Katherine then poisons his food and calmly makes small talk with Anna as he chokes to death in the next room.

Anna is terrified into muteness, and Boris is buried without suspicion. Katherine takes over the estate, and she and Sebastian continue their affair openly. One night, while they are asleep in Katherine's marital bed, she awakes to the realisation that Alexander has returned home. After he reveals that he is aware of the infidelity, Katherine summons Sebastian and they start to have sex in front of him. A fight ensues, during which Katherine kills Alexander. The couple bury Alexander's body in the woods and kill his horse. They are not directly accused of the murder, and Sebastian begins to dress and behave as the lord of the manor himself.

A woman named Agnes arrives at the estate with a young boy named Teddy, whom she claims is the product of an affair between Alexander and her daughter. Katherine reluctantly shelters the pair. Sebastian, angry at the change in living arrangements, returns to the outbuilding. Katherine realises she is pregnant, but is unable to inform Sebastian. She also begins to bond with Teddy. When Teddy disappears after Katherine scolds him, Sebastian finds the boy sitting over a waterfall and rescues him. When he returns Teddy to the house, he admits that he considered pushing him in. Katherine dissuades Sebastian from leaving, promising to do anything he wants in return.

While Teddy's grandmother is asleep, the couple uses the opportunity to smother Teddy. Sebastian hides in the woods while Katherine claims that Teddy died in his sleep. The village doctor is sceptical of the story, but while the issue is being discussed, a guilt-ridden Sebastian returns from the woods and confesses everything. Katherine turns Sebastian's confession back on him and accuses him of committing all of the murders with Anna. Her word is taken over his, especially when Anna remains mute. As Sebastian and Anna are taken away by the police, the remaining servants leave. Katherine remains alone in the house with her unborn child.

Cast

Production

In September 2015, it was announced Florence Pugh, Cosmo Jarvis, Christopher Fairbank, Naomi Ackie, and Paul Hilton had been cast in the film, with William Oldroyd directing from a screenplay by Alice Birch. [4]

Release

The film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on 10 September 2016. [5] Shortly after, Roadside Attractions and Altitude Film Distribution acquired US and UK distribution rights to the film, respectively. [6] [7] It went onto screen at the BFI London Film Festival on 14 October 2016 [8] and the Sundance Film Festival on 20 January 2017. [9]

The film was released in the United Kingdom on 28 April 2017 [10] and in the United States on 14 July 2017. [11]

Reception

Critical response

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 88% based on 198 reviews, with a weighted average of 7.6/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Lady Macbeth flashes some surprising toughness beneath its period exterior, bolstered by a mesmerizing – and unforgiving – central performance by Florence Pugh." [12] On Metacritic, which assigns an average rating to reviews, the film has a weighted score of 76 out of 100, based on 37 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [13]

Guy Lodge of Variety said "Florence Pugh announces herself as a major talent to watch in William Oldroyd's impressively tough-minded Victorian tragedy." [14] David Friend of The Canadian Press calls Pugh's performance "a revelation" and "a striking portrayal of a woman on the brink." [15]

Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian gave the film 5 out of 5 stars, describing it as "a brilliantly chilling subversion of a classic" and "smart, sexy, dour" and Pugh's performance as "lethally charismatic … both sphinx and minx". [16]

Mick LaSalle of The San Francisco Chronicle writes "Oldroyd's approach to Lady Macbeth guarantees some longueurs as the film wears on. But the clarity with which Pugh and Oldroyd communicate Katherine's thoughts and motives maintains a solid interest throughout." [17]

Accolades

AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipient(s)ResultRef.
Evening Standard British Film Awards 8 December 2016Malone Souliers Award for Breakthrough of the Year Florence Pugh Won [18]
Les Arcs European Film Festival 16 December 2016 Cineuropa Award Lady MacbethWon [19] [20]
Dublin Film Critics' Circle 26 February 2017 Best Actress Florence Pugh Won [21]
National Board of Review 28 November 2017 Top Ten Independent Films Lady MacbethWon [22]
European Film Awards 9 December 2017 Best Actress Florence Pugh Nominated [23]
European Discovery / Prix FIPRESCILady MacbethWon
British Independent Film Awards 10 December 2017
Best British Independent Film Lady MacbethNominated [24]
Best DirectorWilliam OldroydNominated
The Douglas Hickox Award (Debut Director)Nominated
Best Actress Florence Pugh Won
Best Supporting Actress Naomi Ackie Nominated
Most Promising NewcomerWon
Cosmo JarvisNominated
Best Screenplay Alice Birch Won
Best Debut ScreenwriterNominated
Breakthrough Producer Fodhla Cronin O'Reilly Nominated
Best CastingShaheen BaigNominated
Best Cinematography Ari Wegner Won
Best Costume Design Holly Waddington Won
Best Make-up and Hair DesignSian WilsonNominated
Best Production DesignJacqueline AbrahamsNominated
Belgian Film Critics Association 7 January 2018 Grand Prix Lady MacbethNominated [25]
Goya Awards 3 February 2018 Best European Film Nominated [26]
British Academy Film Awards 18 February 2018 BAFTA Award for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer Alice Birch (Writer), William Oldroyd (Director), Fodhla Cronin O'Reilly (Producer)Nominated [27]
Outstanding British Film Lady MacbethNominated
Independent Spirit Awards 3 March 2018 Best International Film William OldroydNominated [28]

Related Research Articles

<i>Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk</i> (opera) 1932/1962 opera by Dmitri Shostakovich

Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk, Op. 29 is an opera in four acts and nine scenes by Dmitri Shostakovich. The libretto, jointly written by Alexander Preys and the composer, is based on the novella Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District by Nikolai Leskov.

Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District is an 1865 novella by Nikolai Leskov. It was originally published in Fyodor Dostoyevsky's magazine Epoch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emma Donoghue</span> Irish-Canadian writer (born 1969)

Emma Donoghue is an Irish-Canadian novelist, screenwriter, playwright and literary historian. Her 2010 novel Room was a finalist for the Booker Prize and an international best-seller. Donoghue's 1995 novel Hood won the Stonewall Book Award and Slammerkin (2000) won the Ferro-Grumley Award for Lesbian Fiction. She is a 2011 recipient of the Alex Awards. Room was adapted by Donoghue into a film of the same name. For this, she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cosmo Jarvis</span> British actor (born 1989)

Harrison Cosmo Krikoryan Jarvis is a British actor and singer-songwriter. He has starred in the films Lady Macbeth (2016), Calm with Horses (2019), and Persuasion (2022). In 2024, he portrayed John Blackthorne in the historical drama series Shōgun.

Paul Hilton is an English actor on stage, radio, and TV. He is an alumnus of the Welsh College of Music & Drama.

Fodhla Cronin O'Reilly is an Irish film producer. She produced Lady Macbeth starring Florence Pugh, God's Creatures starring Emily Watson and Paul Mescal, Ammonite starring Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan and My Generation starring Michael Caine. She was nominated for an Academy Award for her short film, Head Over Heels, and two BAFTA Awards for Lady Macbeth.

<i>Macbeth</i> (2015 film) Film directed by Justin Kurzel

Macbeth is a 2015 epic historical drama film directed by Justin Kurzel and written for the screen by Todd Louiso, Jacob Koskoff, and Michael Lesslie, based on William Shakespeare's eponymous play. The film stars Michael Fassbender in the title role and Marion Cotillard as Lady Macbeth, with Paddy Considine, Sean Harris, Jack Reynor, Elizabeth Debicki and David Thewlis in supporting roles. The story follows a Scottish lord's rise to power after receiving a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. Like the play it was adapted from, the film dramatises the damaging physical and psychological effects of political ambition on those who seek power for its own sake.

<i>Breathe</i> (2017 film) 2017 UK Film

Breathe is a 2017 biographical drama film directed by Andy Serkis in his directorial debut, from a screenplay by William Nicholson. It is based on the true story of Robin Cavendish, who became paralysed from the neck down by polio at the age of 28. The film stars Andrew Garfield, Claire Foy, Hugh Bonneville, Tom Hollander, Ed Speleers and Dean-Charles Chapman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Florence Pugh</span> English actress (born 1996)

Florence Pugh is an English actress. She made her acting debut in 2014 in the drama film The Falling. Pugh gained recognition in 2016 for her leading role as a young bride in the independent drama Lady Macbeth, winning a British Independent Film Award, and drew praise for starring in the miniseries The Little Drummer Girl (2018).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stella Meghie</span> Canadian filmmaker

Stella Meghie is a Canadian film director and screenwriter. She is known for her feature films Jean of the Joneses (2016), Everything, Everything (2017), The Weekend (2018), and The Photograph (2020). Meghie has also directed episodes for television series including Grown-ish, Insecure and First Wives Club.

<i>On Chesil Beach</i> (film) 2017 British film

On Chesil Beach is a 2017 British drama film directed by Dominic Cooke and written by Ian McEwan, who adapted his own 2007 Booker Prize-nominated novella of the same name. It stars Saoirse Ronan and Billy Howle and tells the story of virgins, Florence and Edward, and their first disastrous attempt at having sex on their wedding night. The initial experience and their differing responses to the failure have lifelong consequences for both.

<i>Arrhythmia</i> (film) 2017 "`UNIQ--templatestyles-00000002-QINU`" film

Arrhythmia is a 2017 Russian drama film directed by Boris Khlebnikov. Participant of the contest Kinotavr. It was released on 28 September 2017. Filmed in Yaroslavl, Russia. This is a movie described a paramedic devoted to his patients struggles to make time for his wife who begins to believe his patients are more important to him than she is.

<i>Outlaw King</i> 2018 film by David Mackenzie

Outlaw King is a 2018 historical action drama film about 14th-century Scottish king Robert the Bruce during the Scottish Wars of Independence. The film largely takes place during the 3-year period from 1304, when Bruce decides to rebel against the rule of Edward I over Scotland, up to 1307 Battle of Loudoun Hill. Outlaw King was co-written, produced, and directed by David Mackenzie.

<i>The Escape</i> (2017 film) 2017 film

The Escape is a 2017 British drama film directed by Dominic Savage. It was screened in the Special Presentations section at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival. The story follows Tara, a stay at home mother, who is beginning to fall out of love with her husband, Mark, and their kids.

The 20th British Independent Film Awards nominations were announced on 1 November 2017.

The 38th London Film Critics' Circle Awards, honouring the best in film for 2017, were announced by the London Film Critics' Circle on 28 January 2018 at The May Fair Hotel, in Mayfair, London. The nominations were announced on 19 December 2017. Actor-filmmakers Alice Lowe and Steve Oram returned to host the ceremony for the third consecutive year.

Naomi Sarah Ackie is an English actress. She is known for her television roles in The End of the F***ing World (2019) and Master of None (2021) and in the film Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019). In 2022, she portrayed American singer Whitney Houston in the biopic I Wanna Dance with Somebody.

<i>The Little Drummer Girl</i> (TV series) 2018 British television spy miniseries

The Little Drummer Girl is a British espionage drama television series based on the 1983 novel of the same name by John le Carré. The six-episode series first aired on BBC One in the United Kingdom on 28 October 2018 and on AMC in the United States during November 2018. A Director's Cut was later released in 2019.

<i>The Wonder</i> (film) 2022 film by Sebastián Lelio

The Wonder is a 2022 period psychological drama film directed by Sebastián Lelio. Emma Donoghue, Lelio, and Alice Birch wrote the screenplay based on the 2016 novel of the same name by Donoghue. Set shortly after the Great Famine, it follows an English nurse sent to a rural Irish village to observe a young 'fasting girl', who is seemingly able to miraculously survive without eating. Florence Pugh leads an ensemble cast that includes Tom Burke, Niamh Algar, Elaine Cassidy, Dermot Crowley, Brían F. O'Byrne, David Wilmot, Ruth Bradley, Caolán Byrne, Josie Walker, Ciarán Hinds, Toby Jones, and Kíla Lord Cassidy.

Ari Wegner, ACS, ASC, is an Australian cinematographer. Her work includes films such as Lady Macbeth (2016), True History of the Kelly Gang (2019), and Zola (2020). In 2021, she served as cinematographer on The Power of the Dog for which she received widespread critical acclaim including an Academy Award nomination for Best Cinematography, becoming only the second woman to do so in the award's 94-year history.

References

  1. "Lady Macbeth". British Board of Film Classification . Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  2. Catchpole, Chloe (28 April 2017). "Lady Macbeth Review". Den of Geek! . Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  3. "Lady Macbeth (2016)". Box Office Mojo . Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  4. Wiseman, Andreas (22 September 2015). "Florence Pugh, Cosmo Jarvis cast in 'Lady Macbeth'". Screen International . Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  5. Nolfi, Joey (22 February 2017). "Toronto Film Festival 2016: Magnificent Seven, La La Land to screen". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  6. Seetoodeh, Ramin; Lang, Brent (15 September 2016). "Toronto: Roadside Attractions Gets 'Lady Macbeth' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety . Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  7. Grater, Tom (20 September 2016). "Protagonist scores key 'Lady Macbeth' sales". Screen International . Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  8. "Lady Macbeth". BFI London Film Festival . Archived from the original on 23 February 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  9. "Lady Macbeth". Sundance Film Festival . Archived from the original on 15 September 2019. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  10. Loughrey, Clarisse (13 January 2017). "Lady Macbeth takes on a new guise in first trailer for racy period drama". The Independent. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  11. "Lady Macbeth". Box Office Mojo. 21 July 2017. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  12. "Lady Macbeth (2017)". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  13. "Lady Macbeth Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  14. Lodge, Guy (9 September 2016). "Film Review: 'Lady Macbeth'". Variety . Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  15. "Unearthing the gems: Standout TIFF movies you might've missed | CTV News Toronto". toronto.ctvnews.ca. 17 September 2016. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  16. Bradshaw, Peter (17 April 2017). "Lady Macbeth review – a brilliantly chilling subversion of a classic". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  17. LaSalle, Mick (20 July 2017). "Star turn by newcomer Florence Pugh in 'Lady Macbeth' film adaptation". San Francisco Chronicle . Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  18. Norum, Ben (9 December 2016). "Evening Standard British Film Awards: Kate Beckinsale and Hugh Grant crowned winners". London Evening Standard . Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  19. "'Glory' wins top prize at Les Arcs European Film Festival". Screen Daily. 19 December 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  20. Keslassy, Elsa (16 December 2016). "'Glory,' 'Home,' 'The Fixer' Among Winners at Les Arcs Film Festival". Variety . Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  21. "Dublin Film Critics' Circle Awards". 26 February 2017. Archived from the original on 27 May 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  22. "2017 Award Winners". National Board of Review. 27 May 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  23. "Lady Macbeth - Film - European Film Awards". European Film Awards . Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  24. Tartaglione, Nancy (1 November 2017). "'Lady Macbeth' Leads British Independent Film Awards Nominations – Full List". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  25. "Grand Prix UCC 2018: cinq finalistes issus de quatre pays, le Cavens à Home". 6néma (in French). 22 December 2017. Archived from the original on 23 December 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  26. "Todos los nominados a los Premios Goya 2018". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. 13 December 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  27. "Bafta Film Awards 2018: The winners in full". BBC News . 18 February 2018. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  28. "2018 Independent Spirit Awards: Winners List". Variety . 3 March 2018. Retrieved 10 March 2018.