TWELFTH NIGHT: OR WHAT YOU WILL 1996
A film review by Timothy Voon
Copyright 1997 Timothy Voon
1 :-) for a comic tale of crossed gender roles
Cast: Helena Bonham Carter, Imogen Stubbs, Nigel Hawthorne, Richard E. Grant, Ben Kingsley, Mel Smith, Imelda Staunton, Toby Stephens, Steven Mackintosh, Nicholas Farrell Director: Trevor Nunn Screenplay: Trevor Nunn based on the play by William Shakespeare
Shakespeare is a visionary. This comic tale of mistaken identities, cross-dressing and love triangles is way ahead of its time. The Master of mirth and mire has impeccable timing, when it comes to awkward situation comedy. This is no exception.
Picture the scenario of almost identical twins, a he and a she who are lost at sea. The she-twin, Viola, (Imogen Stubbs), survives and arrives in a land where a Duke (Toby Stephens) is infatuated with the neighbouring Countess (Helena Bonham Carter). Viola assumes the personage of a male, and finds work as the Duke's steward, before becoming his closest confidante. She is sent as a messenger of love from the Duke to the Countess, and unwittingly becomes the Countess's object of passion. At the same time Viola bares a secret love for the Duke. Thus, forming a love triangle uncommon for its time.
Amusing moments of note. When Viola has her breasts strapped, an absolute look of delight crosses her face. At the end of the day when the breasts are finally unstrapped the look of absolute pain, is replaced with a look of absolute relief. Sexual tensions mount as the Countess loses any understanding of personal space, and literally throws herself at Viola with every opportune moment. At the same time, Viola unavoidably keeps intruding into the Duke's personal space at the most inopportune moment i.e. when he's taking a bath and needing a scrub on the back, or when listening to a minstrel, comes close enough to kiss.
Anybody with a sound mind could tell a man from a woman, especially back in the days when hormonal therapy wasn't an option. Imogen Stubbs does her best to be as manly as possible, but the low voice and wispy moustache is as effective as trying to strap down her chest. Helena Bonham Carter grows more enchanting as she grows older, and the rest of the well known cast - Ben Kingsley, Nigel Hawthorne, Richard E. Grant etc. play supporting roles of side characters, who remain confusingly anonymous until midway through the movie. Again, it is the language of Shakespeare, which remains the true winning element of this movie.
Timothy Voon e-mail: stirling@netlink.com.au
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