Titus (film)

Titus is a 1999 ItalianAmericanBritish fantasy thriller film adaptation of William Shakespeares revenge tragedy Titus Andronicus, about the downfall of a Roman general. Starring Anthony Hopkins and Jessica Lange, it was the first theatricallyreleased feature film adaptation of the play. The film was made by Overseas Filmgroup and Clear Blue Sky Productions and released by Fox Searchlight Pictures. It was the film directorial debut of Julie Taymor, who coproduced and wrote the screenplay. It was produced by Jody Patton, Conchita Airoldi and executive produced by Paul G. Allen.

Caesar, the Emperor of Rome, died. His sons Saturninus and Bassianus squabble over who will succeed him. The Tribune of the People, Marcus Andronicus, announces the peoples choice for new emperor is his brother, Titus. He refuses the throne and hands it to the late emperors eldest son Saturninus, much to the latters delight. The new emperor states he will take Lavinia, Titus daughter, as his bride to honor and elevate the family. She is already betrothed to Saturninus brother, Bassianus, who steals her away. Tituss surviving sons aid in the couples run for the Pantheon, where they are to marry. Titus, angry with his sons because in his eyes theyre being disloyal to Rome, kills his son Mutius as he defends the escape. The new emperor, Saturninus, dishonors Titus and marries Tamora instead. Tamora persuades the Emperor to feign forgiveness to Bassianus, Titus and his family and postpone punishment to a later day, thereby revealing her intention to avenge herself on all the Andronici.During a hunting party the next day, Tamoras lover, Aaron the Moor, meets Tamoras sons Chiron and Demetrius. The two argue over which should take sexual advantage of the newlywed Lavinia. Aaron easily persuades them to ambush Bassianus and kill him in the presence of Tamora and Lavinia, in order to have their way with her. Lavinia begs Tamora to stop her sons, but Tamora refuses. Chiron and Demetrius throw Bassianuss body in a pit, as Aaron directed them, then take Lavinia away and rape her. To keep her from revealing what she saw and endured, they cut out her tongue as well as her hands, replacing them with tree branches. When Marcus discovers her, he begs her to reveal the identity of her assailants Lavinia leans towards the camera and opens her bloodied mouth in a silent scream. ........

Source: Wikipedia