The Madness of Lady Macbeth

Author(s): T.D.
Location: TX

"The Madness of Lady Macbeth"

Directed by Kenneth Branagh
Produced by Alison Owen & Scott Rudin
Written by Peter Morgan
Distributed by Pathé Pictures ( UK ) & Miramax Films (US)
Art Direction by John Myhre
Set Decoration by Peter Howitt
Cinematography by John Mathieson
Editing by Jill Bilcock
Costumes by Alexandra Byrne
Music by Dario Marianelli

Main Cast
Kelly Macdonald as Lady Macbeth
Jude Law as Macbeth
Imelda Staunton as the Gentlewoman
Richard Gambon as King Duncan
Jim Broadbent as the Doctor
Emilia Fox as Lady Macduff

Tagline: "We all go a little mad sometimes, but this lady is an exception"

Synopsis: The year is 1603. Lady Macbeth sits in her chamber room and looks out the window, hoping that her dear husband is alive and safe from the battle between Scotland and Norway . As she looks out, the gentlewoman comes in and hands her a letter. It’s from her husband Macbeth. She opens it, and reads that he became the Thane of Cawdor, and that three witches told him that he would become king of Scotland . This news excites her very much. She smiles, and asked the gentlewoman to leave. She sits on her bed and begins to plot the murder of King Duncan. Soon, her husband walks in and she tells the plan to her dear husband. At first, he refuses to kill him, but she tempts him into doing so. Late that night, King Duncan and his lords came to Macbeth’s castle for the celebration of defeating Norway , and on that very night, Macbeth kills King Duncan in his sleep. He comes to his wife all bloody and nervous, and he tells her how guilty he was of what he has done. Lady Macbeth tries to comfort him, but then she gets annoyed at him and takes the daggers back to King Duncan’s chamber. She comes back, and takes her husband away to their bed chamber to clean themselves up.The next day, Macbeth and his wife were named king and queen of Scotland . After the coronation, Lady Macbeth heads to her chamber to freshen up. After the gentlewoman helps her out of her clothes and leaves, Lady Macbeth was racked with guilt from the crimes she and her husband have committed, and as a result begins to see spots on her hands. She quickly walks over to a bucket and begins to wash the spots off, but they still remain there. She scrubs and scrubs and scrubs until her hands became red. The gentlewoman walks in and Lady Macbeth shows her hands to the gentlewoman. She sees no spots at all, but Lady Macbeth keeps telling her that they are there on her hands. The gentlewoman advises her to rest, and she does so.That same night, Macbeth wakes to see his wife missing, and he runs through the castle to find her. He finds his wife sleepwalking in one of the hallways, and asked the gentlewoman to call for a doctor. She does so, and the doctor, accompanied by Lady Macduff, arrives at the castle. They both tend to her, and the doctor couldn’t find anything wrong with her. He leaves to tell Macbeth, and Lady Macduff sits with her friend and speaks to her. That morning, Lady Macduff wakes to find Lady Macbeth in the bathroom washing the “spots” off her hands.Disturbed by this strange activity, she leaves the castle and tells them that she can’t stay any longer and watch her friend go mad. That night, the doctor and the gentlewoman speak about the lady’s condition, and then they see her sleepwalking and washing her hands. She also speaks of the terrible things she knows and begins to re-enact her and her husband’s escape after the murder of King Duncan. The gentlewoman and doctor followed her into her chamber, and tried to lay her to rest, but she screamed and fought back until she woke up and fell on the floor. The next morning, she lies in bed next to the doctor and gentlewoman. After much examination, the doctor leaves to tell Macbeth about her condition. The gentlewoman tucks Lady Macbeth in bed and left the room. Lady Macbeth gets out of bed wand slowly walks to her window to see Malcolm and his men outside in Birnam Wood. To avoid invasion, and to avoid further insanity, she takes the dagger from under her bed and kills herself. She falls on the bed and the dagger falls on the ground, dripping fresh drops of blood.

What the Press would say:
In Kenneth Branagh’s new film, Shakespeare’s most well known female character comes to life and is given a broader depth of how she slowly became mad. Peter Morgan’s script is by far one of the most original, defying, well-written scripts to ever brace the cinematic world. And the performances are spectacular, from both the leading lady and supporting characters. Kelly Macdonald is brilliant as the ruthless Lady Macbeth, and the scene in which she sleepwalks and speaks about the spots on her hands makes you believe that she insane! Jude Law delivers an amazing performance as her husband who is controlled by both his wife and his conscience. Imelda Staunton shines as the gentlewoman, and when she cries during her conservation with the doctor about Lady Macbeth’s condition is just tear-jerking. Even though they had minimal screen time, Jim Broadbent and Emilia Fox both excelled as the doctor and Lady Macduff, respectively. The scene in which Broadbent yells at Macbeth and tells him that he can’t cure Lady Macbeth’s condition will make you want to stand and clap for him, while Fox’s star-power scene is when she leaves and tells Macbeth and the doctor that she can’t stay and watch her friend go mad. Filled with amazing costumes, cinematography, set decoration, and a soothing score, “The Madness of Lady Macbeth” is an amazing movie that will leave you in tears and satisfaction at the same time.

For Your Consideration
Best Picture
Best Director – Kenneth Branagh
Best Actress in a Leading Role – Kelly Macdonald
Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Jude Law
Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Jim Broadbent
Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Imelda Staunton
Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Emilia Fox
Best Original Screenplay – Peter Morgan
Best Art Direction-Set Decoration
Best Cinematography
Best Costume Design
Best Original Score