In Julie Taymor’s version of ‘The Tempest,’ the main character is now a woman named Prospera. Going back to the 16th or 17th century, women practicing the magical arts of alchemy were often convicted of witchcraft. In Taymor’s version, Prospera is usurped by her brother and sent off with her four-year daughter on a ship. She ends up on an island; it’s a tabula rasa: no society, so the mother figure becomes a father figure to Miranda. This leads to the power struggle and balance between Caliban and Prospera; a struggle not about brawn, but about intellect.
In her big-screen adaptation of Shakespeare’s mystical thriller The Tempest, Academy Award-nominated Julie Taymor (Across the Universe, Frida, Titus) brings an original dynamic to the story by changing the gender of the sorcerer Prospero into the sorceress Prospera, portrayed by Oscar winner Helen Mirren (The Queen).
Prospera’s journey spirals through vengeance to forgiveness as she reigns over a magical island, cares for her young daughter, Miranda, and unleashes her powers against shipwrecked enemies in this exciting, masterly mix of romance, tragicomedy and the supernatural.
Although Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” centers on Prospero, an exiled duke-turned-sorcerer, the lead character has been rechristened Prospera for this film.
Shakespeare’s play mixes romance with fraternal politics and the supernatural. As revised for the screen, it will center around Prospera (Mirren), her daughter Miranda (Jones) and a shipwrecked crew full of Prospera’s enemies.
The island’s other inhabitants include Hounsou as the deformed slave Caliban and Wishaw as the airy spirit Ariel.
On the ship are rising comedy star Brand, playing Trinculo, a jester; Irons, as Alonso, the King of Naples; and Molina as the drunken butler Stephano. Rush would play Gonzalo, a royal adviser and old ally of Prospera’s.
Although Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” centers on Prospero, an exiled duke-turned-sorcerer, the lead character has been rechristened Prospera for this film.
Shakespeare’s play mixes romance with fraternal politics and the supernatural. As revised for the screen, it will center around Prospera (Mirren), her daughter Miranda (Jones) and a shipwrecked crew full of Prospera’s enemies.
The island’s other inhabitants include Hounsou as the deformed slave Caliban and Wishaw as the airy spirit Ariel.
On the ship are rising comedy star Brand, playing Trinculo, a jester; Irons, as Alonso, the King of Naples; and Molina as the drunken butler Stephano. Rush would play Gonzalo, a royal adviser and old ally of Prospera’s.
The Tempest (2010)
Directed by: Julie Taymor
Starring: Helen Mirren, Felicity Jones, Chris Cooper, Alfred Molina, Alan Cumming, Djimon Hounsou, David Scott Klein, Ben Whishaw, Russell Brand, Bryan Webster
Screenplay by: Julie Taymor, William Shakespeare
Production Design by: Mark Friedberg
Cinematography by: Stuart Dryburgh
Film Editing by: Françoise Bonnot
Costume Design by: Sandy Powell
Set Decoration by: Alyssa Winter
Music by: Elliot Goldenthal
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for Some nudity, suggestive content and scary images.
Distributed by: Miramax Films
Release Date: December 10, 2010
