Movie ‘Hamlet’ by Kenneth Branagh

Here I am going to share my personal point of view for movie ‘Hamlet’ by Kenneth Branagh. Its post viewing task.  Original text ‘Hamlet’ was written by William Shakespeare in Elizabethan Era. This play reflects time and situation of that era.

This play is fully faithful to original text. All scenes, dialogues, acts and etc.. are fully as it is in origial play. Even this movie is more better than play performed in Elizabethan Era. But its not play writer or Director, of that Time’s fault. Because in that time things, promps and etc.. are not easily and enough available. In that time they have to perform in some limitations.

Hamlet is the character, catches my eye in whole play. When I heared and read the play ‘Hamlet’ I use to think that he is the person who can never express his emotions and inner feelings. But my this point of view is totally changed by Kenneth Branagh. In this movie I saw Hamlet very different than my expectations. He can express his self and his mind so properly by soliloquy, which I never expect from him by reading the Original play. I didn’t noticed Ophelia while reading the play but I can properly see and understand character of Ophelia in movie.

Friendship is very important part of any person’s life. Hamlet is very lucky to get a friend like Horatio. From starting till end Horatio is the only character with whom Hamlet can share his pain. Ophelia is known as Hamlet’s only lover but then even he can not share his pain with her. At the end when Hamlet is going to die, Horatio also wants to commite sucide. But Hamlet stops him to daed and ordered him to tell real story of Hamlet. Hamlet becomes self-centered but Horatio gives justice to his friendship. Horatio’s dedication for friend and friendship gives me ‘aesthetic delight’.

Ophelia is the only character for whom I feel catharsis in this whole movie. At very beginning Laertes advised her to stay away from Hamlet because he feels that Hamlet is prince and for rich and royal people love is just only the game and so he thinks that Hamlet will cheet Ophelia but he is not taking his responsibility to take care of his sister. Hamlet is described as mad in this play but Ophelia feels that Hamlet becomes mad because she broke up with him and she feels guilt for madness of Hamlet though she is not. She goes to Hamlet for meet him but in madness and anger Hamlet behaves very rude with her. He insultes her a lot. He ordered her to become a nunn. He hits her,too. Hamlet kills her father in madness and mistake and at that time she is alone. When she needs care and love of her lover and brother she feels lonely. And this alonness makes her mad. She becomes mad because of father’s death, Hamlet’s rude behaviour and physical distance with her brother. Her father, brother, lover no one done his job and playing proper his role in Ophelia’s life. If Laertes or Hamlet  will be with her at the time of death of her father, then she will be handled by him and did not meet with her death. So Ophelia’s character is the only character for purgation of emotions.  

 I am not fond of reading original texts. In todays time most of the youngsters feels the same and that’s why movie screening will help all of the students to better understand original plays. But there is a condition that movie should faithful to original text. Then only movie can helps students.

Play with in the play is the concept using by Shakespeare in this play and Kenneth Branagh gives new vision to that concept by showing flashback in that scene in movie. Flashback system can not used or performed on stage while performing the play but this can happen in movie. This is the only scene catches my mind because Claudius realises his guilt because of this scene and Hamlet reaches at the conclusion that Claudius is the killer of King Hamlet and he decides to take revenge. So, This scene helps to real theme, ‘Taking revenge’ in play and movie both.

If I will Remake this play I make it quite simple. At the end of this movie we have many questions remain in our mind. Like,

1.Ophelia commited sucide or died because of drown???

2.Hamlet is mad or not???

3. Is Gertrude guilty for King Hamlet’s death ???

I will give answers of all these questions at end of the movie. JJ