The Tragedy of Hamlet (2002) (TV)

Director:

Peter Brook

Writers:

William Shakespeare (play)
Peter Brook (adaptation)

Plot Keywords:

Shakespeare's Hamlet | William Shakespeare | Character Name In Title

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Adrian Lester	...	Hamlet
Jeffery Kissoon	...	King (Claudius) / Ghost
Natasha Parry	...	Gertrud - Queen
Bruce Myers	...	Polonius / Gravedigger
Scott Handy	...	Horatio
Shantala Shivalingappa	...	Ophelia
Rohan Siva	...	Guildenstern / Laertes
Asil Raïs	...	Rosencrantz
Yoshi Oida	...	First Player (as Yoshi Oïda)
Akram Khan	...	Second Player
Nicolas Gaster	...	Priest
Antonin Stahly-Vishwanadan	...	Osric (as Antonin Stahly)
Jérôme Grillon	...	Servant (as Jerome Grillon)

Runtime:

UK:134 min

Country:

UK | France | Japan

Language:

English | Japanese

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord - 37 bis, Boulevard de la Chapelle, Paris 18, Paris, France

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Movie Connections:

Version of Hamlet (1964/II) (TV)

Handsome, but Missing Much

One could judge this two ways: first, as an original, self-contained film by Peter Brook; or second, as a production of Shakespeare's play.

While it's true that this is a handsome and well-acted production, I have to mark it down insofar as I think it gives the viewer a somewhat skewed idea of the play. Some of the cuts are actually quite drastic, particularly at the beginning of the play (it opens right into "O that this too too sullied flesh would melt...", and jumps right to Hamlet's meeting with the ghost), and while some of the lost dialog is replaced later on, it's often placed where it makes no sense (1. Polonius's and Ophelia's "Tender yourself more dearly".../"...All the holy vows of heaven" exchange takes place while Ophelia is telling her encounter in the sewing closet, when Polonius is supposed to be REPENTING his interference in Hamlet and Ophelia's romance; 2. The "Cast thy nighted color off...return not to Wittenberg" exchange comes AFTER Hamlet has spoken with the ghost, which changes the dynamic of Hamlet's barbs to Claudius entirely; and 3. "To be or not to be..." is dropped down in place of "How all occasions do inform against me...", when Hamlet's mood is inappropriate for it).

Mostly, though, the production bugs me in one specific way: it is done entirely humorlessly; Osric is gone, much of the graveyard scene is gone, and Polonius is played with all stately dignity. POLONIUS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A COMIC CHARACTER! The play, most especially the first half, is loaded with jokes which are designed to throw the audience off guard for the trauma and pathos of the climax. If the mood of the whole is played dark and brooding, you're losing much of the entertainment factor at which Shakespeare was a master. 'Hamlet' is a roller-coaster, not a subway train.

In sum, I'd say that Brook's 'Hamlet' is recommended for those who are familiar with the play and can see this as one man's vision, but is not recommended for those coming to the play for the first time.