Week 3: Much Ado About Nothing (Kenneth Branagh 1993)




Much Ado About Nothing poster & movie trailer link

 

A sunny and vibrant adaptation of William Shakespeare’s comedy about the silliness of love through two very different romances; one being love at first sight and the other one of a well known acquaintance and unrealised love.

·         Kenneth Branagh has brought Shakespeare to life in this bright and funny movie. Almost mocking the notion of romantic love, he has his characters flippantly demonstrating many discourses toward the feeling that many hold so dear.

·         The young ‘love at first sight’ couple, Hero and Claudio, are so smitten and madly in love with each other it plays a fantastic contrast to the unfriendly relationship between Beatrice and Benedick.

·         Sharp tongued and fierce Beatrice is a woman who seems to refuse the idea of marriage and balks at the word ‘love’. She is quoted at stating ‘I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow than a man swear he loves me’.
Benedick appears to be against women in general, appreciative and thankful that a woman conceived and raised him, but vows that he does not want love and is content to live a bachelor’s life. Both Beatrice and Benedick are so intent on having everyone around them believing in their independence, that they both have become their own obstacle to happiness.

·         Ursula and Antonio’s flirty banter at the party and the uncouth pinching of bottoms and other parts suggests the physical ‘it’s just sex’ side of love.

·         The tragic floor to which every character seems to inhibit is the need to love and be loved. All the dramatic misunderstandings and happenings are forgiven in the end, and love prevails.

·         Constable Dogberry is hysterical, with an air of Monty Python slapstick, while galloping around on invisible horses. This really does put an air of frivolity over the movie, and a feeling that everything will work out fine in the end, which matches the title and the nature of the movie perfectly.

Discussion Question: Why is it 'much to do about nothing'? The film’s interweaving plots and drama are built up and blown out of proportion with fuss, innuendo, gossip, misunderstandings and manipulating. Despite the beating and death wish that Hero receives from her father, who is quick to believe the word from anyone without even consulting his own daughter, all is forgiven in the end. Hero alos receives a very public lashing and questioning of her virtue from her betrothed on her wedding day, yet all is forgiven. Claudio is deceived by Hero, her father, the priest and his friend, by Hero’s fake death, and he forgives them all! Love prevails in the end, and everyone lives happily ever after. All this dram really does end up as much ado about nothing.