Lady Macbeth (film)

Lady Macbeth is a 2016 British period drama film directed by William Oldroyd. Written for the screen by Alice Birch, it is based on the 1865 novella Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District by Nikolai Leskov. It stars Florence Pugh, Cosmo Jarvis, Paul Hilton, Naomi Ackie and Christopher Fairbank. The plot follows a young woman who is stifled by her loveless marriage to a bitter man twice her age.

Lady Macbeth
Theatrical release poster
Directed byWilliam Oldroyd
Screenplay byAlice Birch
Based onLady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District
by Nikolai Leskov
Produced byFodhla Cronin O'Reilly
Starring
CinematographyAri Wegner
Edited byNick Emerson
Music byDan Jones
Production
companies
Altitude Film Entertainment
Protagonist Pictures
iFeatures
Creative England
BBC Films
BFI
Sixty-Six Pictures
Distributed byAltitude Film Distribution
Release dates
  • 10 September 2016 (2016-09-10) (TIFF)
  • 28 April 2017 (2017-04-28) (United Kingdom)
Running time
89 minutes[1]
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget£500,000[2]
Box office$5.4 million[3]

Lady Macbeth had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on 10 September 2016, and was released in the United Kingdom on 28 April 2017 by Altitude Film Distribution. It received positive reviews and has grossed $5.4 million worldwide.

Plot

In 1865, Katherine (Pugh) is in a loveless marriage to an older man, Alexander Lester (Hilton). They live at the estate of Alexander's father, Boris, in rural Northumberland in the North East of England. Katherine is forced to maintain a strict schedule and prevented from leaving the house. Boris scolds her for not giving Alexander a son, but Alexander's sexual interest in his wife seems to be limited to watching her naked body and masturbating whilst observing. One day, both Boris and Alexander have to leave the estate for separate business matters, leaving Katherine alone with the housemaid, Anna. For the first time in memory, she is free to explore the area to alleviate her boredom.

Katherine discovers Anna being suspended from the ceiling of an outbuilding in a sheet by the men who work on the land. They say they are weighing a sow. Katherine has the woman released. She is attracted to one of the men, Sebastian, and the next day sets herself up to meet him. When Sebastian comes to the house to visit Katherine, they begin an affair. Anna informs the local priest, who attempts to warn Katherine, but she sends him away. When Boris returns home, he finds his favourite wine has run out. He accuses Anna of drinking it and tells her to get on the floor on all fours: if she behaves as an animal, she will be treated as an animal. Katherine says nothing. Boris is later informed of the affair, beats Sebastian and locks him in a stable. He strikes Katherine when she demands his release. Katherine then poisons his food, and calmly makes small talk with Anna as he chokes to death in the next room.

Anna is terrified into muteness, and Boris is buried without suspicion. Katherine takes over the estate, and she and Sebastian continue their affair openly. One night, while they are asleep in Katherine's marital bed, she awakes to realise that Alexander has returned home. After he reveals that he is aware of the infidelity, Katherine summons Sebastian and they start to have sex in front of him. A fight ensues, during which Katherine kills Alexander. The couple bury Alexander's body in the woods and kill his horse. They are not directly accused of the murder, and Sebastian begins to dress and behave as the lord of the manor himself.

A woman named Agnes arrives at the estate with a young boy named Teddy, who she claims is the product of an affair between Alexander and her daughter. Katherine reluctantly shelters the pair. Sebastian, angry at the change in living arrangements, returns to the outbuilding. Katherine realises she is pregnant, but is unable to inform Sebastian. She also begins to bond with Teddy. When Teddy disappears after Katherine scolds him, Sebastian finds the boy sitting over a waterfall and rescues him. When he returns Teddy to the house, he admits that he considered pushing him. Katherine dissuades Sebastian from leaving, promising to do anything he wants in return.

While Teddy's grandmother is asleep, the couple use the opportunity to smother Teddy. Sebastian hides in the woods while Katherine claims that Teddy died in his sleep. The village doctor is sceptical of the story, but while the issue is being discussed, a guilt-ridden Sebastian returns from the woods and confesses everything. Katherine turns Sebastian's confession back on him, and accuses him of committing all of the murders with Anna. Her word is taken over his, especially when Anna remains mute. As Sebastian and Anna are taken away by the police, the remaining servants leave and Katherine remains alone in the house with her unborn child.

Cast

Production

In September 2015, it was announced Florence Pugh, Cosmo Jarvis, Christopher Fairbank, Naomi Ackie and Paul Hilton had been cast in the film, with William Oldroyd directing from a screenplay by Alice Birch.[4]

Release

The film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on 10 September 2016.[5] Shortly after, Roadside Attractions and Altitude Film Distribution acquired US and UK distribution rights to the film, respectively.[6][7] It went onto screen at the BFI London Film Festival on 14 October 2016[8] and the Sundance Film Festival on 20 January 2017.[9]

The film was released in the United Kingdom on 28 April 2017[10] and in the United States on 14 July 2017.[11]

Reception

Critical response

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 88% based on 198 reviews, with a weighted average of 7.6/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Lady Macbeth flashes some surprising toughness beneath its period exterior, bolstered by a mesmerizing – and unforgiving – central performance by Florence Pugh."[12] On Metacritic, which assigns an average rating to reviews, the film has a weighted score of 76 out of 100, based on 37 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[13]

Guy Lodge of Variety said "Florence Pugh announces herself as a major talent to watch in William Oldroyd's impressively tough-minded Victorian tragedy."[14] David Friend of The Canadian Press calls Pugh's performance "a revelation" and "a striking portrayal of a woman on the brink."[15]

Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian gave the film 5 out of 5 stars, describing it as "a brilliantly chilling subversion of a classic" and "smart, sexy, dour" and Pugh's performance as "lethally charismatic … both sphinx and minx".[16]

Mick LaSalle of The San Francisco Chronicle writes "Oldroyd's approach to Lady Macbeth guarantees some longueurs as the film wears on. But the clarity with which Pugh and Oldroyd communicate Katherine's thoughts and motives maintains a solid interest throughout."[17]

Accolades

Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Evening Standard British Film Awards 8 December 2016 Malone Souliers Award for Breakthrough of the Year Florence Pugh Won [18]
Les Arcs European Film Festival 16 December 2016 Cineuropa Award Lady Macbeth Won [19][20]
Dublin Film Critics' Circle 26 February 2017 Best Actress Florence Pugh Won [21]
National Board of Review 28 November 2017 Top Ten Independent Films Lady Macbeth Won [22]
European Film Awards 9 December 2017 Best Actress Florence Pugh Nominated [23]
European Discovery / Prix FIPRESCI Lady Macbeth Won
British Independent Film Awards 10 December 2017
Best British Independent Film Lady Macbeth Nominated [24]
Best Director William Oldroyd Nominated
The Douglas Hickox Award (Debut Director) Nominated
Best Actress Florence Pugh Won
Best Supporting Actress Naomi Ackie Nominated
Most Promising Newcomer Won
Cosmo Jarvis Nominated
Best Screenplay Alice Birch Won
Best Debut Screenwriter Nominated
Breakthrough Producer Fodhla Cronin O'Reilly Nominated
Best Casting Shaheen Baig Nominated
Best Cinematography Ari Wegner Won
Best Costume Design Holly Waddington Won
Best Make-up and Hair Design Sian Wilson Nominated
Best Production Design Jacqueline Abrahams Nominated
Belgian Film Critics Association 7 January 2018 Grand Prix Lady Macbeth Nominated [25]
Goya Awards 3 February 2018 Best European Film Lady Macbeth Nominated [26]
British Academy Film Awards 18 February 2018 BAFTA Award for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer Alice Birch (Writer), William Oldroyd (Director), Fodhla Cronin O'Reilly (Producer) Nominated [27]
Outstanding British Film Lady Macbeth Nominated
Independent Spirit Awards 3 March 2018 Best International Film William Oldroyd Nominated [28]

References
  1. "Lady Macbeth". British Board of Film Classification. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  2. Catchpole, Chloe (28 April 2017). "Lady Macbeth Review". Den of Geek!. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  3. "Lady Macbeth (2016)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  4. Wiseman, Andreas (22 September 2015). "Florence Pugh, Cosmo Jarvis cast in 'Lady Macbeth'". Screen International. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  5. Nolfi, Joey (22 February 2017). "Toronto Film Festival 2016: Magnificent Seven, La La Land to screen". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  6. Seetoodeh, Ramin; Lang, Brent (15 September 2016). "Toronto: Roadside Attractions Gets 'Lady Macbeth' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  7. Grater, Tom (20 September 2016). "Protagonist scores key 'Lady Macbeth' sales". Screen International. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  8. "Lady Macbeth". BFI London Film Festival. Archived from the original on 23 February 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  9. "Lady Macbeth". Sundance Film Festival. Archived from the original on 15 September 2019. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  10. Loughrey, Clarisse (13 January 2017). "Lady Macbeth takes on a new guise in first trailer for racy period drama". The Independent. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  11. "Lady Macbeth". Box Office Mojo. 21 July 2017. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  12. "Lady Macbeth (2017)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  13. "Lady Macbeth Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  14. Lodge, Guy (9 September 2016). "Film Review: 'Lady Macbeth'". Variety. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  15. "Unearthing the gems: Standout TIFF movies you might've missed | CTV News Toronto". toronto.ctvnews.ca. 17 September 2016. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  16. Bradshaw, Peter (17 April 2017). "Lady Macbeth review – a brilliantly chilling subversion of a classic". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  17. LaSalle, Mick (20 July 2017). "Star turn by newcomer Florence Pugh in 'Lady Macbeth' film adaptation". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  18. Norum, Ben (9 December 2016). "Evening Standard British Film Awards: Kate Beckinsale and Hugh Grant crowned winners". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  19. "'Glory' wins top prize at Les Arcs European Film Festival". Screen Daily. 19 December 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  20. Keslassy, Elsa (16 December 2016). "'Glory,' 'Home,' 'The Fixer' Among Winners at Les Arcs Film Festival". Variety. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  21. "Dublin Film Critics' Circle Awards". 26 February 2017. Archived from the original on 27 May 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  22. "2017 Award Winners". National Board of Review. 27 May 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  23. "Lady Macbeth - Film - European Film Awards". European Film Awards. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  24. Tartaglione, Nancy (1 November 2017). "'Lady Macbeth' Leads British Independent Film Awards Nominations – Full List". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  25. "Grand Prix UCC 2018: cinq finalistes issus de quatre pays, le Cavens à Home". 6néma (in French). 22 December 2017. Archived from the original on 23 December 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  26. "Todos los nominados a los Premios Goya 2018". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. 13 December 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  27. "Bafta Film Awards 2018: The winners in full". BBC News. 18 February 2018. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  28. "2018 Independent Spirit Awards: Winners List". Variety. 3 March 2018. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
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