Director
Kenneth Branagh
Leading Actors/Actresses
Frances Barber, Christopher Ravenscroft
Supporting Actors/Actresses
Richard Briers, Caroline Langrishe
Genre
Shakespearean dramatic comedy
Language
English
Awards
no awards at time of writing
Date of Release
1988
Producer
Paul Kafno
Setting and Context
Ilyria, Medieval times, after a shipwreck off the coast. It is also Twelfth Night
Narrator and Point of View
No narrator. The movie is see through the point of view of the audience as none of the characters' specific points of view are favored over another
Tone and Mood
It is a good humored movie, light-hearted in tone, but also dealing with unrequited love so for some of the characters it is wistful and tortuous.
Protagonist and Antagonist
There are various protagonists and antagonists; Orsino is the protagonist, Olivia the antagonist
Major Conflict
The major conflict is within each character as they fight with the feelings of love that is not reciprocated. There is also a small and light-hearted challenge to a duel that is less conflict and more amusement.
Climax
Viola realizes that Sebastian is still alive and she reveals her true identity. Now that she is "publicly" a woman once more she is able to begin a romantic relationship with Orsino, Olivia is happy to be married to Sebastian, and love wins the day.
Foreshadowing
The arrival of Sebastian in Ilyria foreshadows the fact that Viola's true identity will be revealed.
Understatement
Malvolio is thought to be a fool, which is an understatement because he has been utterly duped by Sir Toby and Sir Andrew, and should have realized that his goal of marrying a noblewoman was unattainable. He also should have realized that Olivia would not have made such outlandish demands on him as a condition of her affection.
Innovations in Filming or Lighting or Camera Techniques
The movie is shot on one set. This is highly unusual and rather than feeling like a traditional movie, it gives the film the air of the theater. The audience feel as though they are in a theater, watching a stage play, rather than watching a film.
Allusions
no specific allusions in the film
Paradox
Olivia discovers that the man she has been in love with is actually a woman, but the paradox in this situation is that she can marry the man who is the identical twin of the "man" she believed herself to be in love with.
Parallelism
There is a parallel between the attraction that Olivia has for Cesario and the attraction that Viola has for Orsino; Olivia's love can never be fulfilled because she does not realize that "Cesario" is actually a woman in disguise. Similarly, Viola can never let Orsino know how much she loves him because she is supposed to be a young man and it would therefore be inappropriate to tell him of her love.
