The Film Much Ado About Nothing and Its Contribution to Understanding of the Play

The Film Much Ado About Nothing and Its Contribution to Understanding of the Play

The film 'Much Ado About Nothing' is very successful because it makes

Shakespeare's play alive and it makes the play more realistic. In

addition it is a very enjoyable film and helps the audience appreciate

the play much more. It puts across the story clearly and helps us

understand the significance and situation of the story.

To begin with, one of the clearest ways in which the film is

considered to be most outstanding was due to the setting of the film.

The film was expediently set in Tuscany, Italy in the beautiful

countryside, which is suitable since Shakespeare's play is originally

set in Messina, Italy. The director had set the location in an area of

hills around a large Italian villa and gardens. also He scrupulously

provides seventeenth century decoration; from convoluted household

objects and garden ornaments to the actual lifestyle of the

individuals that suitably relates to the play and provides an genuine,

realistic background that makes it more convincing to the audience,

rather than if it were filmed somewhere inappropriate.

The director controls the weather according to the atmosphere of the

scenes which is known as pathetic fallacy. For example, during the

first scene at the beginning of the film, where some of the main

characters of the play are enjoying a picnic and listening to a poem

about the inconsistency of men, read by Beatrice. Here the season

resembles spring with plenty of sunshine portraying a light, joyful

atmosphere which can be sensed by the audience. This very same sort of

atmosphere is used in the scene where there is...

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... that Claudio is immature and sensitive; and Don Jon's is of a

red demon, which signifies his malice. Another reason why the mask

party contributed to my understanding and appreciation of the play is

because the mask party in its entirely is a representation of deceit

and deception.

In conclusion, watching the film Much Ado About Nothing really

contributed to my understanding and appreciation of the play. This is

because of the representation of the characters, the humour as well as

the beautiful scenery and settings. The director of Much Ado About

nothing has made the whole play much more realistic and authentic and

appealing to the audience. I would not have such positive opinion of

the play if I hadn't watch the film and I am very lucky to have

watched and been able to understand one of Shakespeare's utmost plays.