Prospero's Books (1991)

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1. 

   Siskoid

   Peter Greenaway's gorgeous adaptation of The Tempest, Prospero's Books is also an acting showcase for Sir John Gielgud, who does most of the voices, sometimes on top of the other actor's performance, at least until he lets go of the narrative. Odd sound design, perhaps, but it's Greenaway's way of showing the old magician is in total control. Another clever idea is having the spirits of the isle represented by a vast host of nude dancers, presumably invisible unless they speak. Intercutting the play's text with an itemized collection of wondrous books (a theme Greenaway returns to in The Pillow Book) gives us a sense that the film itself is similar collage. It has frames within frames, but more than that combines various media into a lush experience - theater, writing, painting, dance, calligraphy, music, opera... And many of its images are indelible (I watched this while at university and remembered much of it, though I didn't expect a young Mark Rylance to show up as Ferdinand). In the way the camera tracks along wide sets, it may remind audiences of Greenaway's The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover, his most popular work (if we can use that word in connection with this director), but pending a rewatch of that film, I rather think Prospero's Books is his actual masterpiece. 2 years 1 month ago
2. 

   Eduardo Nasi

   Beautiful adaptation of Shakespeare's The Tempest. Very powerful images. 12 years 11 months ago

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