King Lear (1987 film)

King Lear is a 1987 cinematic adaptation of the Shakespeare play of the same title, directed by JeanLuc Godard. The script is primarily by Peter Sellars and Tom Luddy. The films plot, centred on a late descendant of Shakespeare attempting to restore his plays in a world rebuilding itself after the Chernobyl catastrophe obliterates most of human civilisation, is centred on a resort in Nyon, Vaud, Switzerland.

The New York Times review by Vincent Canby compares it unfavourably to the rest of Godards oeuvre as tired, familiar and out of date, remarking that the few lines of Shakespeare delivered in the play overpower his dialogue, making it seem much punier than need be. Nonetheless, Canby praises the acting as remarkably good under terrible circumstances.Desson Howe of the Washington Post similarly criticises Godard for inappropriately imposing his unique style on Shakespeares work Where the playwright values clarity and poetry, Godard seems to go for obfuscation and banality. Shakespeare aims for universality, while Godard seeks to devalue everything. whilst reserving praise for the editing and cinematography. ........

Source: Wikipedia