Hamlet: 2nd and 3rd body

Franco Zeffirellis version of Act 1 scene 2 is presented to us from a much different approach that strived away from Kenneth Branaghs and other directors’ Hamlet. Hamlets discussions with his mom and step dad are first introduced to us at their castle in a vastly different way through setting and style. Rather than Branaghs prominate  entrance, Zeffirelli takes an opposite approach and makes the setting in a small room cluttered with books. The clothes they wore were similar to the same rags that peasants wore. Their speech was even slowed down to seem less formal. The colors around were dull and did not stand out at all to signify royalty. It could be taken into consideration that Zeffirelli wanted to strive for a less complex version of Hamlet so it could be understood by many more. Although Zeffirelli drove away from the visual shock and awe aspect of Hamlet, he made up for it by shifting more of a focus on Hamlet and Gertrudes relationship.

            Cinematography in Hamlet is a very critical to the making of the film because it allows you to see what the director wants you to see. A close, personal, facial shot could be used to capture facial expression while they speak or a wide dropped back shot could be used to amplify the loneliness of someone in a room. Both styles are used in the production of Hamlet to better familiarize you with the directors’ interpretation of the play. Franco Zeffirelli first introduces Hamlet with a lighting technique by putting him in the shadows of his room to metaphorically reveal that Hamlet has an evil side. This is also metaphorically revealed in Kenneth Branaghs version by dressing Hamlet up in a black suit. His cinematography later focused more on Mel Gibson’s face in unveiling Hamlets anger and rage caused by the murder of his father, his uncle overtaking the throne, and then his mother swiftly getting married to his uncle. This is also partially used in Kenneth Branaghs version but his dark side and anger are more so expressed though Hamlets directed lines and tone that the actor uses. In both versions as the scene closes Hamlet is left alone. Kenneth Branaghs desired more of a loneness feeling in this scene so he added a drop back shot to capture more of a wide angle to capture the greater amount of the emptiness in the room.