The Merchant of Venice (2004)

Calificación de los usuarios:

7.2/10   

Director:

Michael Radford

Escritores:

William Shakespeare (play)
Michael Radford (screenplay)

Fecha de Lanzamiento:

3 diciembre 2004 (UK)

Género:

Drama

Plot:

In 16th century Venice, when a merchant must default on a large loan from an abused Jewish moneylender for a friend with romantic ambitions, the bitterly vengeful creditor demands a gruesome payment instead.

Plot Keywords:

Merchant | Jew | Loan | Love | Christian

Premios:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win & 5 nominations

Comentarios de los usuarios:

The Merchant has been reinvented - with a deft hand

Reparto

Al Pacino	...	Shylock
Jeremy Irons	...	Antonio
Joseph Fiennes	...	Bassanio
Lynn Collins	...	Portia
Zuleikha Robinson	...	Jessica
Kris Marshall	...	Gratiano
Charlie Cox	...	Lorenzo
Heather Goldenhersh	...	Nerissa
Mackenzie Crook	...	Launcelot Gobbo
John Sessions	...	Salerio
Gregor Fisher	...	Solanio
Ron Cook	...	Old Gobbo
Allan Corduner	...	Tubal
Anton Rodgers	...	The Duke
David Harewood	...	Prince of Morocco

También conocida como:

Il mercante di Venezia (Italy)
William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice (USA) (complete title)
El mercader de Venecia (Argentina) (Peru) (Spain) [es]

MPAA:

Rated R for some nudity.

Duración:

138 min | Finland:134 min

País:

USA | Italy | Luxembourg | UK

Idioma:

Inglés

Color:

Color

Relación de Aspecto:

2.35 : 1

Sonido:

Dolby Digital

Clasificación:

Argentina:13 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Zurich) | Mexico:B | Iceland:12 | South Korea:12 | Peru:14 | Brazil:14 | Canada:G (Quebec) | Finland:K-7 | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:12 | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | UK:PG | USA:R

Locaciones de Filmación:

Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg

Compañía:

Spice Factory

Trivialidades:

The bare-breasted prostitutes were not put in the film to make it more risqué, but rather to add a note of historical authenticity. Venetian law at the time required all prostitutes to bare their breasts because the Christian authorities were concerned about rampant homosexuality in their city.

Errores:

Continuidad: When Portia and Nerissa arrive disguised as s judge and a clerk they have a letter with them. When the duke reads this letter out loud it can be clearly seen that there is also text written on the back of the letter. The duke, however, finishes reading the letter without turning the letter around.

Citas:

Shylock: I will buy with you, sell with you, talk with you, walk with you, and so following; but I will not eat with you, drink with you, nor pray with you.

Conexiones de Película:

Apareció en 'Merchant of Venice': Shakespeare Through the Lens (2005) (V)

Banda de Sonido:

How Sweet the Moonlight

The Merchant has been reinvented - with a deft hand

I am always impressed when a director (and this case director/screenwriter) takes a piece of classical text - and makes it come alive. Sure, Shakespeare's text can give you goosebumps even when hammered out with self-importance, but to see a production where true inventiveness makes wonderful words even more so - by the provision of context or nuance not found in the stage directions is simply awe-inspiring. There are many troubling things about the play. It is a racist play about racism - and that still sticks. I have never accepted Jessica's desertion of her father without any acceptable reason. I have never accepted the Christians' position of sanctimonious self-righteousness. But, brilliantly, there is a text prologue which helps us understand the times and politics in which the story is set, and mercifully, much of Jessica's part is cut.

The text is quite stripped down with many passages cut. But, I only noticed one line which was cut at the moment when I expected to hear it - and it was replaced by a look that said it all. This economy and judicious editing has given us a gripping movie - not just a film of the play.

And at last, there is a rationale as to why Antonio is so loyal and generous to the undeserving/unrelated Bassanio - you can almost feel Antonio's pulse start to race when he catches glimpse of Bassanio passing by in a gondola, or arriving for a visit. But it is as subtle as that - no more. I was spellbound.

There were many other highlights. I felt the arguments during the trial to be heartbreaking. And, the suitors' trials are hilarious.

Add all that to glorious cinematography and costumes that resonated with the times, and you'll understand why I can't wait to see it again. And again.