This film based on Shakespeare’s tragedy and noir-thriller includes an impressive performance of Michael Fassbender as the main character MacBeth, a warrior noble-man and as his ruthlessly ambitious wife, Marion Cotillard representing lady MacBeth, who form the film’s dream-team pairing. Fassbender perfectly acts out Macbeth’s outbursts of anger and Marion Cotillard does a spot-on performance of the manipulative wife. David Theulis makes an excellent rendition of King Duncan,  who has a short yet charismatic appearance. To round off this outstanding cast, there is Sean Harris who plays anguished MacDuff.

As for the settings and the language, even though they remain un-updated (the action takes place throughout Scotland in the Middle Ages) they are impressive as the vast green fields can be seen in most of the scenes, with some scenes in interior spaces like tents or palaces. Nonetheless, the language can be difficult to understand at times, this makes the film more realistic but harder to engage with.

After hearing about the prophecy of the three medieval witches, Lady MacBeth persuades her husband to commit regicide. Consequently, MacBeth becomes the King of Scotland and rules like a tyrant. He gets rid of his enemies and those that oppose his kingdom. Near the end of the film, Lady Macbeth starts to regret her husband’s actions and decides to commit suicide. After her action, MacBeth confronts his biggest opponent, but gets killed in the action. Malcolm, Duncan’s son, is now the new King.

Macbeth is a film that can only be completely understood by experts who understand the Scottish accent and Shakespearian English. It is indeed particularly difficult to keep up with but the main themes can be easily appreciated. Macbeth is a film that should be seen once in a lifetime to appreciate a glimpse of Shakespeare’s masterpiece.

Group One: Ana, Martina, Nil, Lluisa