Lady Macbeth

How far are you willing to go in the name of love? That is one of the questions you will ask yourself after watching Lady Macbeth. Hitting cinemas Thursday, 29 June, the dark, powerful and disturbing psychodrama follows the arranged marriage between the beautiful Katherine and wealthy landowner Alexander, and the spree of sex, murder and treachery that ensues.

The film is set in mid-19th Century country England and opens with the marriage of teenage Katherine (Florence Pugh) to middle-aged Alexander (Paul Hilton). Romance is void in this union, which is nothing but a business deal, made clear when Alexander orders his naive bride to disrobe then proceeding to neglect her on their wedding night. The next morning, Katherine is ordered to remain indoors with her prayer book at all times and is subjected to a strict regimen and harsh treatment by her authoritarian father-in-law, Boris (Christopher Fairbank) and housemaid, Anna (Naomi Ackie).

The monotonous routine leaves Katherine gasping for fresh air, and one day, after hearing a commotion, she rushes to the stable to find a naked Anna tied up in a sheet, dangling from the ceiling, in a game of masculine dominance She also encounters the handsome and cocky groomsman James (Cosmo Jarvis), who she orders to release Anna. Although disgusted by his display of bravado, Katherine’s eyes linger on James, and her desire for sexual freedom, attention and – more importantly – love awakens as they embark on a passionate affair.

Directed by Will Oldroyd, Lady Macbeth is uncomfortably chilling, delving deep into the traditional gender norms of the submissive wife – regarded as nothing more than property – and juxtaposing this against Katherine’s astute mind, which she uses to toy with those who seek to control her. The result is two Katherines: the victim and the aggressor. Florence Pugh really takes you on a journey throughout the film. You initially sympathise with her character and her unflinching hope for a better life, but this is challenged by a need to condemn her actions and a decision to turn against her. It’s hard to pinpoint the exact moment where the coin flips, which is a testament to Pugh’s subtlety in expression and mannerisms as she morphs into a manipulative murderess.

The cinematography is spectacular – juxtaposing misty English countryside landscapes and open forests with wooden, austere interiors filled with an air of formality and oppression. The supporting cast are brilliant, especially Naomi Ackie, who steals every scene she is in, and Cosmo Jarvis, proving to be a formidable actor as well as a musician.

Lady Macbeth is a visceral, violent, and brilliant masterpiece that goes beyond the traditional Victorian BBC flick.

Lady Macbeth 
In cinemas Thursday, 29 June 2017
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