Lady Macbeth
By Kat Halstead,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Intense British period drama has sex, violence, language.
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Lady Macbeth
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What's the Story?
In LADY MACBETH, Katherine (Florence Pugh) is sold into a marriage with a man twice her age, who treats her with coldness and contempt. When he is called away on business, she is able to regain a small taste of freedom, and begins a passionate affair with a worker on the estate. But as her desire to be permanently free from her situation begins to manifest itself as a ruthless obsession, she is driven to commit atrocities that threaten to destroy everything around her.
Is It Any Good?
In her second ever feature role, Pugh gives a captivating performance that shows the kind of screen presence and technical mastery of a far more experienced actor. As Katherine, she radiates an inner power at odds with her seemingly powerless position -- an air of dignity and control that moves from defiance to cold-blooded malevolence as Lady Macbeth progresses. First-time director William Oldroyd's sense of visual storytelling is dripping in tension. The stark, muted interiors, repetition of shots, and the use of stillness and silence create a pressure cooker of repression and frustration that serves as a stark contrast to the wild, unrefined nature of the surrounding landscape and the unfiltered masculinity of Cosmo Jarvis's Sebastian.
Though technically a period drama, the movie toys with the genre and turns it on its head, with Oldroyd describing it as "Wuthering Heights meets Kill Bill." It has more in common with a modern revenge drama than a Victorian romance, yet the tension between the two is what ultimately creates its unique edge. A powerful, at times brutal, portrayal of a woman driven to extremes in search of autonomy.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Lady Macbeth portrayed sex. Was it affectionate? Respectful? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.
Discuss the violence in the movie. Did the violent scenes help tell the story in an effective way? Was it shocking or thrilling? Why? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?
Talk about the strong language in the movie. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
Discuss the different ways in which power is abused by different characters. How do the rules inside Katherine's home reflect the society of the time?
Movie Details
- In theaters: July 14, 2017
- On DVD or streaming: October 3, 2017
- Cast: Florence Pugh , Cosmo Jarvis , Paul Hilton
- Director: William Oldroyd
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: Roadside Attractions
- Genre: Drama
- Run time: 89 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: some disturbing violence, strong sexuality/nudity, and language
- Last updated: December 23, 2022
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