One of Shakespeare’s lesser-known plays has been turned into a British movie, which I saw last night.
Coriolanus is a tragedy, dealing with pride, and vengeance, and the folly which results from such… Set in ancient Rome, the filemakers have kept the story intact, but made the setting contemporary; it is a Rome of cell-phones and CNN-like news networks, where armies duke it out with tanks and AK-47s, rather than swords (with some neat throwbacks, e.g. the police line with their shields raised, resembling a Roman testudo); also, the movie was shot largely in Serbia and Montenegro, using locals in casting, and the story and setting have parallels with the modern Balkans, too.
A Roman general, Caius Martius, who is a war hero for his exploits abroad (given the title Coriolanus after taking a city, Corioles, belonging to the Romans’ biggest enemies at the moment, the Volsci), but despised by the people for his lack of pity when earlier, many people had rioted for food (during a famine; he had scorned them openly as unworthy), is banished, and decides to take revenge on the city, by joining his biggest enemy (the leader of the Volsci, Aufidius), in order to avenge himself.
Yet, notwithstanding his lack of pity for the less fortunate, one sympathizes with him to some degree, as he is constantly manipulated by those closest to him – both his enemies, and those who love him, and a hungry media. He is partly a victim of forces beyond his control (but only partly, because his prideful, angry responses victimize himself further). A tragic hero, indeed.
Well worth seeing.
Branden Sullivan
March 22, 2012 at 12:46 pm
Thank you Will for introducing me to this film; I enjoy movies about pre-Modern Europe. Drifting a bit off topic here, has anyone else noticed a spike in the number of movies and television shows about pre-Christian Europe? I had just finished watching ‘The Immortals’ yesterday and begun thinking about this.
Ruskin,
http://www.occidentaltraditionalist.blogspot.com/
Cranberry
March 22, 2012 at 1:28 pm
I studied Coriolanus in one of my Shakespeare Seminars at Uni. It is one of the best of his lesser-known plays, and appropriate for the times in which we are living, with their political upheaval, the changing loyalties of politicians, and riots (really red-herring issues of sorts, like OWS and the BC mandate) being drummed-up to displace candidates.
I will put this film on my “to see” list. Contemporary adaptations of Shakespeare don’t always do it for me, but I’m willing to give it a try if you say it is that good.
Svar
March 22, 2012 at 1:31 pm
@ Branden
The Spartacus series comes to mind. It might have to do with the popularity of “300” though that might be a bit of a stretch.
Branden Sullivan
March 22, 2012 at 1:41 pm
@Svar
Ah yes, Spartacus, I watch that show every Friday night. It is the only television program which I watch consistently. While I of course disagree with Spartacus, the show does appeal to me for I like Pagan Europe as well and the depiction of Ancient Rome which in many ways resemble our modern times, in a more barbaric form. Sorry for being off-topic, carry on…
Will S.
March 22, 2012 at 2:03 pm
@ Branden / Ruskin:
Hey, you’re welcome.
Yeah, over the last few years, we’ve seen a number of Greek / Roman / Viking and pre-Viking themed movies / TV shows, like 300, Spartacus, Beowulf, and others (I see there’s a new Clash of the Titans sequel coming soon); I saw an excellent Roman-themed movie a year or two ago whose name I forget. But yeah, there have been a bunch. One might even well consider it a trend, of sorts… It may be interesting to speculate why.
Oddly enough, though Shakespeare set his story not only in pre-Christian Rome, but pre-Imperial, Republican days Rome, people had crosses on necklaces, and there were churches in the countryside, in this adaptation.
@ Cranberry: Yes, it definitely seemed very relevant to today; the Roman state, as portrayed, seemed kind of like the E.U. (with a touch of the U.N., an African general), with an American-style military. I think you’ll enjoy it.
Svar
March 22, 2012 at 2:08 pm
I just checked out the trailer. I want to watch this movie. It’s directed by the same man who directed Gladiator and The Last Samurai. Both excellent movies with the latter being one of my favorites.
Will S.
March 22, 2012 at 2:11 pm
I didn’t know that, but I’m not surprised to hear it was him. It was quite well done.
Cranberry
March 23, 2012 at 7:26 am
The play is based on real history, so it technically falls into the category of his “Histories” even though tragic (with the possible exception of Henry V, all of his histories are rather tragic, which is probably more telling of history than of the author).
Any drama about the fall of one age (in the case of Coriolanus the Estruscans fell to what would become Imperial Rome) and the rise of another will always be relevant to our times, for I do believe we are on the cusp of a great change. It may or may not be bloody, though I fear these things never come off without significant bloodshed.
I think the focus on pre-Christian Europe or even pre-democracy Europe has much to do with a longing, perhaps a subconscious one, to return to days of war and sacrifice, honor, nobility, and the security of having a place in the hierarchy. The stories are highly romanticized but fill a space in the heart and mind that our current entertainments, lifestyle, and even life prospects cannot ever fill.
PS, what is going on with WordPress? I can’t sign into my Gravatar account with my e-mail address and have to use a defunct address. Anyone else having problems with this?
Svar
March 23, 2012 at 7:56 am
Cranberry, WordPress has been giving everyone problems lately. That’s why Kathy is now Katmandoodoo.
You say we are on the cusp of a great change. How so? In what direction?
Cranberry
March 23, 2012 at 9:19 am
@ Svar,
Perhaps it is just changes in my own life magnifying what I see everywhere. I think, socially, we are moving in the wrong direction and something is going to happen to either change that direction or destroy our society altogether. The hand-wringing over the Decline of the West and moral decay is not altogether incorrect (though some doomsday predictors seem to think economic and political collapse is imminent, as in tomorrow). But the barbarians are already inside the gate, and something will give. Perhaps not in this decade or the next (remember, when speaking in terms of history, things seldom happen with such great speed as to be noticeable until after they’ve occurred – hence slippery slopes, repeating our mistakes, etc.). I admit to being somewhat prepared for rolling blackouts, food shortages, or loss of potable water, but I live in the sticks and have gone without power and water for days on end, and thought it wise to be ready in case such a thing happens again.
I do think the presence of people like the ones in the Right/Mano/traditionalist spheres is going to be a force for change, whether the momentum is slow or rapid. The flywheel is being pushed and the more people can be gathered to get behind it, the faster the change will happen. I think people are waking up – there is pushback against public schooling and the public sector in general, at least in my corner of the U.S., and hopefully the messages of feminism, moral relativism, and misandry are beginning to fall on deaf or at least indifferent ears. It is in this way that great change can occur – and positively, IMO.
On a larger front, I think the threat of war, and the possibility of it being a World War III scenario, will bring great change to the world whether we want it or not. The Eurozone appears to be a few bailouts away from crumbling completely; France is poised to elect its first far-right government in almost half a century, and the former Eastern Bloc countries are turning to conservatism and Christianity in their governments.
If the RCC in America can get its act together and preach and enforce its values, it may become once again a strong and venerable institution which safeguards life and morality (I only say the RCC specifically because that is my religion, but other denominations need to step up too). Obama has proved the failure I knew he would be, and many of his followers are beginning to see it. The masses are not ready to admit the Naked Emperor, but if the welfare state fails (and it looks like it will) then we will be in trouble.
Will S.
March 23, 2012 at 10:12 am
Possibly related to the growth in popularity of classical-themed entertainment, may be the resurgence in recent years of folk/roots music; there, too, though perhaps nostalgic for a more recent era, we indeed see a longing for connection with our past, our heritage.
Perhaps it isn’t too late, to turn things around.
katmandutu
March 23, 2012 at 11:01 am
“Katmandoodoo.” ????
I doo do not appreciate the sarcasm Svar.. 😉
Svar
March 23, 2012 at 1:10 pm
Kathy, I think we both know that’s a lie.
Svar
March 23, 2012 at 1:18 pm
Cranberry, do you really think we’re going to enter a WW3-type scenario? {sigh…} I have a friend in the Marine reserves… Tried to convince him out of him to no avail. Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori I guess. Amerika is not worth dying for. There really is no reason to fight or die to continue the Anarcho-Tyranny. The suicide rate among vets is especially high…
As for France’s far-right government: Secular or Catholic?
There probably will be civil unrest and a breakdown of infrastructure. Can’t say that I’m prepared.
katmandutu
March 23, 2012 at 6:42 pm
“Kathy, I think we both know that’s a lie.”
Have I ever lied to you before? Ever?
Why sir! I do declare that I am cut to the quick!
(Said with head thrown back and hand raised to the forehead.)
Kathy 😦
Svar
March 23, 2012 at 8:13 pm
Now, now, no need to get dramatic.
katmandutu
March 23, 2012 at 8:51 pm
Ah, I love a strong man who can soothe the savage female beast. 🙂
In fact I married one. 😉
Will S.
March 24, 2012 at 7:14 pm
I like this review of Coriolanus:
http://libertarianalliance.wordpress.com/2012/03/11/politically-incorrect-film-reviews-coriolanus/
Though I quibble with his quibble about the varied accents, since, in an empire, one might find well find such. (Of course, it is set before the Empire, so one may well argue that the accents should be more uniform; however, I think the main reason for not bothering to try to harmonize accents, is because the setting is supposed to be a pastiche of sorts of the European Union and America, hence the cast.)
Will S.
April 29, 2012 at 6:14 pm
Andy Nowicki chimes in, with a unique take:
http://www.counter-currents.com/2012/04/coriolanus-man-against-the-mob/print/