Florence Pugh in LADY MACBETH. Courtesy of Roadside Attractions ©
– By Cate Marquis –
Director William Oldroyd’s LADY MACBETH is not Shakespeare but it is certainly Shakespearean in its bloody mix of murder and sex. The story is not about Shakespeare’s murderously ambitious character but is based on a 19th century Russian novel, “Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District” by Nikolai Leskov, inspired by Shakespeare. The novel focuses on 19th century society’s strict constraints on women, driving one woman to mad, extreme measures, but this brilliant, gripping thriller of a film takes it further, into questions of class and race.
A powerful performance by beautiful Florence Pugh is sure to keep audiences on the edge of their seats. This costume drama is anything but restrained, apart from the corsets and the strict limits placed on women of the era, and anything but typical of the genteel genre. Director William Oldroyd makes a strong film debut but he and scriptwriter Alice Burch came out of the theater, and clearly know what they are doing here. At the center of this maelstrom, is actress Florence Pugh in a searing performance likely to launch her to stardom.
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