General Macbeth, returning from a victorious war, receives a prophecy from three witches who will eventually become king. His friend Banquo also receives a prophecy that he will father a line of kings. He is initially skeptical, but soon begins to receive aspirations to become king, and then greed, guilt, and betrayal kick in.
There are several times that this film has been interpreted in cinema and theater, in several countries!
But here our subject is the Direction of Photography.
Macbeth’s Tragedy is a production where photography goes hand in hand with text and interpretation!
So many scenes to comment, but here no spoilers…
For me, the scene of the blood that drips slowly, in a perfect contrast of light and shadow, a dark blood, which also refers to the dark, the guilt that increases, with each drop… the close in this image, makes the color union, framing and light.
Guilt is something deep in the human soul, and this is translated into the duality of light, the clarity on your face and the shadow of acceptance of error in the dark…
Initial scenes around the well-lit fog, which overshadows the future, the uncertain and even the doubt and clarity about the interpretation of the witches’ prophecy, which are in the dark or shaded…
Some scenes are too much, and I speak only in the direction of photography, the work of photography with light, moving through all levels of light and dark, but always with strong contrasts, showing the anguish caused by betrayal and greed.
The scene in Macbeth is completely dark and he walks into a lighted circle, and the high shot shows him as if he’s in a well.
Lady Macbeth’s illuminating eyes, in short, is my favorite so far in the Cinematography category.
