THE WINTER'S TALE/KENNETH BRANAGH THEATRE COMPANY'S THE WINTER'S TALE site

UK, 2015, 150 minutes, Colour.
Kenneth Branagh, JudI Dench, Miranda Raison, Hadley Fraser, John Shrapnel, Jessie Buckley.
Directed by Kenneth Branagh, Rob Ashford.

This film version of the stage performance in London’s Garrick Theatre offers audiences an opportunity to see the performance of a Shakespearean play which is not so well-known.

It has its status as one of Shakespeare’s later plays, one of melancholy, one of eventual hope and reconciliation. Kenneth Branagh’s company has brought it to the stage, had great respect for the text, and, as a critic said, offers a masterclass in Shakespearean production.

Kenneth Branagh has directed a number of Shakespearean films, Henry V, Much Ado about Nothing, Hamlet, Loves Labours Lost, As You Like It and a film version of the stage production of Macbeth. He also played Iago in the film version of Othello with Laurence Fishburne.

This film is a fable, set in an imaginary land, ruled over by a King, who is married to a loving wife who is expecting their child. He is visited by a long time friend from another kingdom. He has many people in court on whom he can rely, especially the attendant to his wife, Paulina.

However, the strong theme is that of jealousy, very reminiscent of Othello, though there is no Iago ago in this story, the King, Leontes, making himself jealous. He suspects his friend of having a relationship with his wife, accuses her, imprisons her and sentences her to death.

The scene changes and moves to a foreign land where Paulina’s husband, unnecessarily attacked and killed by a bear, has taken the infant, Perdita, meaning ‘lost girl’, and entrusted her to a local shepherd who brings her up as his daughter.

The film becomes very bucolic, with all kinds of celebrations, pantomime, dancing and flirting, and some rogues and conmen. However, the son of the kinig who raised Leontes’ jealousy, is in the country in disguise, and falls in love with Perdita. And she him. There are romantic scenes of wooing.

And then, everybody goes back to Sicily, the son is revealed in his true character, though he is spied on by his father in disguise, who treats him rather badly in the Leontes’ vein.

The other aspect, the climax of the story, is Leontes’ grief, repentance, Paulina taking him to see the statue of his dead wife, his grief, confession, and then her coming alive with happy reconciliation all-round.

Judi Dench is most impressive as Paulina. Miranda Raison is effective as Hermia and Hadley Fraser as the rival King.

While it is a filmed play, there is enough to continually keep audience attention for this opportunity to see a rarely-performed Shakespeare play.