Modern vs. Classic

A same role can be interpreted in many different ways. In Kenneth’s Branagh version we see a more classic Hamlet. Even before I started reading the play or even watching one of these clips I had a vision of Hamlet in my head, it was almost the same as the Hamlet we see in the video. The video focuses mostly on his face to enhance on the problem he seems to be having. He moves slowly and focuses on the words he says portraying anger and desperation.

The interpretation of Hamlet by Tennant, Downie, and Stewart shows a different soliloquy and a different Hamlet at the same time. Just the first few seconds of the clip demonstrate this when we see the character’s clothes. He wears jeans, a simple t-shirt and is barefoot. The focus of the camera also differs, here we see a wider shot, and they don’t focus only on the characters faces because he moves much more than the other Hamlet.

Both characters are interpreting Hamlet. That is an obvious similarity, but apart from that the scenery in both is also similar, it’s dull and represents the typical castles or noble homes we all know from movies. So we can’t say that is the difference and is what separates the two clips into modern and classic. Hamlet, the interpretation of the character is what creates the difference. The way the two directors create their character reveals the main difference between them (regardless of the fact there different parts of the play). That is what I found interesting, how one play, one plot can be represented through different approaches. In one we a see “today” Hamlet, the way he dresses, speaks and moves is like someone today would express anger and desperation. While in the other one we see a typical Hamlet, the one we expect to see when we think about Shakespeare play. The important thing and what both these directors manage to do is that no matter the approach they take with the character, they can make him express to the audience the emotions he feels.