The Arthouse Film Festival has been busy lately. As part of Monday night’s screening, they showed us the latest production of Macbeth, aka ‘The Scottish Play’, one of Shakespeare’s shortest plays.

Macbeth (Michael Fassbender) is a Scottish Feudal Lord, who’s leading King Duncan’s forces against a rebellion. Before he enters into the last battle of the war, he is told by three witches that he will one day become King. He is triumphant, and returns home to his wife (Marion Cotillard), and he informs her of the prophecy. King Duncan (David Thewlis) arrives to celebrate the victory. Lady Macbeth convinces her husband to kill the king and take the throne. He does so, but only after chasing off the King’s son, Malcolm (Jack Reynor) and implicating him in the assassination. Macbeth takes the throne, but his sanity starts disappearing.

Shakespeare can be rough to follow. Reading it is difficult, but hearing it spoken is generally the best way to experience it. In this case, the movie is very stylistic, with several scenes of slow motion, and whispers where monologues are supposed to take place. The movie uses Scottish accents, as well, making it hard to follow for this American. I personally have never seen Macbeth before, so I can’t comment on the nature of the portrayal. The set designers made prodigious use of lighting and fog, most of which was done well.

I liked the film, but I don’t know that I could recommend it, unless you’ve experienced Shakespeare before, and know what to expect.