In 2016, the screen came out William's filmOldroyd "Lady Macbeth." Comments of Western critics on the film are predominantly positive. The budget of the film is relatively small - 500 thousand euros. Cash gathering amounted to 2.8 million dollars. In Russia, rave reviews of the film "Lady Macbeth" is very small.
The screen version of Russian classics
In reviews about the film "Lady Macbeth" viewers, first of all, mention the work, towhich was addressed by Oldroyd. However, sad as it may seem, there are those among authors of reviews who have not read Nicholas Leskov's essay. They do not compare Katherine with Katerina Izmaylova and do not draw parallels between the finale of the painting and the denouement in Leskov's book.
However, and the audience, which the plot of the work of the Russian writer is unfamiliar, on the thematic sites left negative reviews. Film "Lady Macbeth" belongs to the genre of art house drama. This movie is not for mass viewing. In the artistic features of the picture, perhaps, is the main reason indignant responses.
Reviews and reviews of film "Lady Macbeth" we will certainly consider. But first you should remember the storyline of the source. Indeed, in Russia many spectators were disappointed by the denouement of the sensational film.
"Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District"
In the reviews of the film, the audience is disappointed. This often happens when speech goes about the Western adaptation of Russian classics. At the same time, neither spectators nor critics could pay attention to the film in our country. Earlier, foreign directors filmed the works of Tolstoy, Chekhov, Dostoevsky. It turned out that they are familiar with the name of Nikolai Leskov. But the plot of the British film surprised everyone. ABOUT than tells the story of a Russian classic?
home heroine - Caterina Izmaylova - marries an unloved person. A life her boring, colorless. Once the husband and father-in-law leave, and Katerina gets to know a young and handsome worker Sergei. A novel is being fastened.
The bark suddenly returns, find out about the adventures of the daughter-in-law.Lovers kill him, then get rid of Catherine's husband. The final and most terrible crime is the murder of a minor heir. Katerina and Sergei sent to penal servitude, but there the man loses interest in his lover and starts a new one.
Actions of the main character Leskov is guided by passion - dazzling, animal, not knowing the barriers. Sergei takes part in the crimes, initiated by Izmailov, but he is driven by the calculation. Katerina is not afraid of hard labor, she wants only one - be next to him. When he learns of treason, he kills his opponent and commits suicide.
This is the plot of the book, on which the film "LadyMacbeth. "In the reviews, critics point out an unusual directorial approach, a bold interpretation of the classical work." The ordinary female viewers did not like the main female image, which has little in common with Leskov's character. "Katerina Izmailova, oddly enough, can cause sympathy." Catherine of the British film is not at all. .
Russian history in the background of the English landscape
British producer filmed a work written more than 150 years ago by Leskov about the fictitious inhabitants of the Orel province. In Russia, negative feedback from viewers and critics about the film "Lady Macbeth" it would be much more if he tried to recreate the realities of the life of the Russian merchant class. Everyone knows that comes out at foreign cinematographers, when they undertake the Russian classics. In most cases - nothing good. The film of William Oldroyd takes place in the UK of the XIX century.
There is mystery, gloom, gray - all that is on the pages "Wuthering Heights" and other novels. But Oldroyd has thickened the colors. The the impression that the English landowner's house is on the outskirts, and within a radius of several kilometers - not a soul.
Artistic features
In the film, the frames quickly change.Heroes are few words. The loneliness of the main character is emphasized quite distinctively: from time to time she appears in a frame sitting on the same couch, in the same dress, with an expression on her face, devoid of all kinds of emotions.
After the crime committed, the image her somewhat changes. She gets rid of the blue dress, under which hides an uncomfortable corset, as if freed from the captivity of the landowner, which the "bought her together with a patch of land". There are characters in the movie who do not even say a line, but serve as a kind of background.
main character
So, the film was created according to Leskov's book. It is quite logical that Russian viewers expected to see a well-known story about a woman who had lost her mind because of passion. Expectations were not justified.
After the murder of the boy, Katerina Izmailova goes to penal servitude, where she perishes. Young merchant woman - victim spiritless society. At least, so argued critics of the XIX century, comparing her with Katerina from the play "Storm". But what kind of heroine did Russian TV viewers see in British films? In the first frames, Catherine is sympathetic. Her they marry Alexander, who has contempt for her. At close viewing the spectator understands, that she could and, perhaps, wished to grow fond of the husband. But that already on the wedding night led yourself more than strange.
If Izmailova is suffering from boredom, then Catherine - from unlimited anguish. In home foret her perceive as an expensive thing that should be of use, and above all to give birth to an heir. Father of the husband hard and bluntly reproaches Catherine for not fulfilling her husband's obligations. But she does not shy away from them - Alexander avoids the intimate relationship.
Revenge and composure
The heroine meets Sebastian. Further события разворачиваются по сюжету Лескова.But at some point the viewer realizes that the heroine is not a woman, full of passion, and certainly not a victim of a cruel society. The film is quite frankly showing intimate scenes. But in his criminal actions, Catherine is guided not only by the desire to be loved, but also by the desire for revenge. And most importantly - in end of this whole story avoids punishment.
Other characters
Heroes of the film "Lady Macbeth" rather unpleasant.Both Alexander and his father Boris, as already said, are short-lived, but each of their remarks is filled with hatred, contempt for Katherine. As for Sebastian, he, according to the authors of the reviews, is rather unconvincing. This character is not at all like a villain who has ruined a woman's soul. Sebastian goes on about Catherine, at some point even instigates her for another murder. At the same time he suffers from remorse.
In the story told in the film "Lady Macbeth"justice did not triumph. In the plot of considerable importance is social and racial inequality. And the black maid, and hired работник Себастиан подвергаются постоянным humiliation. In the finals, which many viewers did not like so much, the creators of the film probably wanted to emphasize the injustice present in the English society of the 19th century. Catherine comes out dry out of water. People of the third go to penal servitude varieties - Sebastian and a maid who has nothing to do with crimes.
Actors
The leading woman is known in Russia only to those who closely follow the news of foreign cinema. Same can say and about others actors. Reviews of the film are mixed. There are both positive and negative. The latter belong, as a rule, to ordinary viewers not perceiving specific receptions art house art.
Acting Florence Pugh, who played Katherine, was appreciated by everyone. She filmed started not long ago - in 2014 but in "Lady Macbeth" demonstrated high skill. Florence Pugh managed to create on the screen an image of a cynical, cruel, selfish, vindictive woman. The film also played Cosmo. Jarvis, Christopher Fairbank, Naomi EkiPaul Hilton
