Branagh's Adaptation Of Hamlet Essay

The widely admired work of William Shakespeare has been, over the span of decades, adapted into films which originate from the same source but differ in context and means of portrayal. Filmmakers, as generations grow and society evolves, must master the art of successfully reaching out and empathizing with differing audiences whilst taking in the social, cultural and economic values widely appropriated by societies, into serious consideration. Kenneth Branagh directed and interpreted his adaptations of Hamlet by Shakespeare. Branagh, in his adaptation (1996), have interpreted Act 5, Scene 1, quite distinctly in means of sound/music, costumes and make up, lighting, camera angles and shot compositions, and editing. All of these factors are relevant
The use of key lighting is to further enhance and illuminate the main source of attention, which is Hamlet and Yorick’s skull. The key lighting used also softens the dark atmosphere in which the scene takes place in so it does not dominate the shot. Just as the gravedigger says, “This same skull, sir, was Yorick’s skull, the king’s jester.” (IV, I, 165-166) and as Hamlet takes the skull and holds it up, the background is dark for the sole purpose of making Hamlet and the skull stand out prominently. Branagh’s use of key lighting adds on to the mood of mystery and Doran’s use of fill light falls in sync with the solemn atmosphere his setting provides. In addition, the theme of death is portrayed thorugh many different examples though out the play. The scene of death takes place in a forest surrounded by darkness and the aspect of darkness is often presumed to be a symbol of mystery, fear and obscurity The author ties in the darkness of the forest along with the theme of death. Hamlet refers to death as , “…the undiscover’d country, from whose bourn no traveller returns, puzzles the will,” (III, I, 79-80). This sounds more interesting and the audiences back then love the way it’s