Prospero's Books (1991)

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

The Worst Film Ever

Highly Overrated But Still Good

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

On the first sight this is one of numerous attempts to make a Shakespeare movie. Yes, it looks rather like a spectacle than a film. First impression is that it is a very-very strange movie. Actors are deliberately artificial. Make up is intentionally thick. Gestures are exaggerated. People are silent. You hear music and reader's voice. I thought watching it - what's it exactly? A try to say a new word on a topic which is equal to four hundred years?.. Try to say a new word of it, just try, okay.Time passed. Several years.By the time a new adaptation of 'Tempest' appeared, with Helen Mirren as Prospero. And what's the matter? I found that I can not watch another 'Tempest' shot by any other director. All of them look like wrong, WEAK and stupid. All of them look like fakes. (I love Helen Mirren, I adore her works and her appearance in every film is welcomed by me. But not in 'Tempest' - and it is not her fault.)Wow, I thought, what a surprise! The movie by Peter Greenaway - for me - is the Best 'Tempest' I have ever seen - and I'm afraid - I will ever see. It is so right as it can be. The text is a pure contradictory fantasy of the poet and Mr. Greenaway makes it into reality, breathes a life into it showing it with all means which do not offer ready images for us and, on the contrary, he turns a spectator's imagination on and involves us into a game with images. Do you know such another director or another film which makes it with a spectator? It is closer to a real Globe staging. It is a miracle. And it is a fantastic masterpiece. Do I recommend it to everyone? I don't. It is very-very specific. It is not for everyone. Just like something collectible, something valuable, rare and fragile. Something you would prefer not to show for everyone not to break an atmosphere around it. And it takes several years to understand what it really IS. Just like in life ... when you live and do something whatever, and then several years later you suddenly catch your thought that it was a happiest time in your life. So this film is something of that kind (for me). You may understand what it IS not immediately after watching.

"The Tempest", in a sublime way, is both about itself and us, giving us a role inside the play itself and at the same time the opportunity to experience it from the outside; strongly about the art of telling stories and creating reality through them, Prospero is a wonderful archetype of a narrator.What Greenaway gives me is different yet much alike from what for example Tarkovsky gives, which may sound absurd considering the styles of film-making: the theatrical visual exuberance of Greenaway with overlaid images scarcely brings to mind the ethereally lingering camera shots of a Rublev or a Nostalghia. But if we go further, we notice that they are both as adventurous, going far away the horizon to uncharted visual territory. "The Pillow Book" (1996), although equally exuberantly visual, is far more accessible, and perhaps my favourite "Late Greenaway". Not that this doesn't have everything going for it, it is rather serious stuff. Sure, this is pompous and there are moments I'd rather shortened, and by the time we reach the wedding one, at least this particular viewer feels rather drained out. But this is so remarkably wonderful visually and deeply rich in its understanding/interpretation of Shakespeare that it doesn't really matter, but in other later Greenaways I don't feel as strongly about, this lack of deep-rooted humour makes them bothersome to watch. With "Prospero's Books" I'm more forgiving, I suppose, but as with some other amazing films ("A torinói ló" from 2011, for example), it can be tough to sit through.A notable thing, Michael Nyman's music. A wonderful experience on its own, Nyman's compositions have the power to amplify and annotate the images we see, and the effect works both ways. Curiously the music is taken from Nyman's "La Traversée de Paris". And the dancing is superb, as well as Sacha Vierny's work, that is, how it dwells in the space that surrounds it.I don't think it's easy to find a proper DVD of this, let alone a Blu-ray. I have this on an Italian DVD that, unfortunately, has only the dialogue in Italian, as well as a DVD released in Scandinavia. It's not amazing by any means, but I'm glad it exists. The back cover of the DVD has one of the funniest things I've seen. It actually states that the film has been directed by "the four-time Academy award winner Peter Greenaway".

a pure show. a meeting. firework of imagination. a travel in Greenaway universe. a memorable occasion to rediscover Sir John Gielgud art. Shakespeare. and little more. it is strange to write a revue because it is not question of science, precision, ability of scriptwriter or director, performance of actors but only taste. it can be a spectacular film, full of gorgeous ideas, images and suggestions. it can be boring or fake or strange or out of expectations. but it is a film by Peter Greenway. so, the easy confusion is OK. it is a jewel in hands of an amazing figure of British theater. so, must see it. but, more important, it is precious game between viewer and himself. this is its essence. and new way to discover The Tempest.

I just saw this movie this summer and I was absolutely bedazzled. Everything about from scene one with the water drops to the last shot of little Ariel was over the top in great. I would recommend this to anyone in search of a complex magical tale with superb acting. I watched it late at nite and it was like a dream. What an experience!Also fabulous was the music and the choreography, plus the choice of colors and sets. I think it's wonderful when a movie does justice to a work of Shakespeare's--not an easy feat by any means.Loved John Gielgud's performance and I simply can't imagine anyone else in the lead. I am purchasing a copy this movie and never parting with it. Hats off to Peter Greenaway and everyone else involved in this fine artistic accomplishment!