MACBETH (MA15+)
When Orsen Welles made the first filmed version of Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Macbeth, he envisaged a violent blend of Wuthering Heights and Bride of Frankenstein.
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Fast forward to 2015 and the latest version of Macbeth still seems to fit that description. Michael Fassbender as the post traumatically stressed general is a very worthy Macbeth. Marion Cotillard, particularly in the heart wrenching sleep walking scene, is perfect as Lady Macbeth.
Australian filmmaker Justin Kurzel, like Roman Polanski in his 1971 version, concentrates on the violence in the story.
The viewer, once recovered from the blood soaked images, will long bask in the magnificent score by Kurzel’s brother, Jed. It certainly creates a marvelous atmosphere in a film shot in Scotland’s Isle of Skye.
This magical place is not only regularly blanketed in mist, but also steeped in myths.
TANNA (M)
Tanna is a 45 minute flight from Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu, which is on the main island of Efate.
The first thing about the tiny island that catches the eye, is the smoking cone of the active volcano Mount Yasur. The 30,000 Melanesian inhabitants live in a purposely isolated society.
They know what is going on in the Western world, they choose what suits their “kastoms”. Up until the 1980s, one aspect of their lives that was strong was arranged marriages. The film documents a story about a couple who lived during this time.
The film was made in “Tanna time”, taking into account the daily activities tied up with gardening and the drinking of kava. All participants are from the two communities that were involved in the historical incident.
The film was made before the devastating cyclone Pam hit the island. To inspire everyone, the filmmakers strung a sheet between two of the remaining banyan trees and screened Rolf de Heer’s 2006 film '10 Canoes'.
Dain (Mungau Dain), as the Romeo of the story, was chosen by his tribe as the man for the part, as he was the most handsome man in the village. Wawa, (Marewawa) is the ‘Juliet.’ The young couple, in their plight, are on the run in this tiny place.
A particularly amazing location is on the rim of the volcano, the figures silhouetted against raining stones, flame and lava.
Vanuatu has long been a popular stopping place for cruise travelers; hopefully the Tanna people’s ‘kastoms’ are strong enough to accommodate this filmic invasion into their unique lives.
