Shakespeare in Love
1998 · Directed by John Madden
Original language: English
- romance
- history
- comedy
- drama
The story
Young William Shakespeare is forced to stage his latest comedy, 'Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate's Daughter', before it's even written. When lovely noblewoman Viola de Lesseps auditions for a role, they fall into forbidden love — and Shakespeare's play finds a new life (and title). As their relationship intensifies, the comedy soon transforms into tragedy.
What it’s like
Warm, candlelit interiors and grimy, sun-washed London streets give this film a lush, bustling texture: sweat-stained rehearsal halls, muddy riverbanks, and the golden glow of a packed Elizabethan playhouse, all shot with an easy handheld mobility that keeps the camera close to the actors' faces. Sweeping period costumes and rich, velvety colour sit against scruffy, lived-in squalor, while John Madden's score leans on lively strings and gentle waltzing rhythms that tip into swooning romance. The mood is bright, witty and buoyant, with a touch of wistful ache in the later scenes as comedy edges toward tragedy. Its pace is brisk and talky, full of quick repartee and theatrical banter, and the central couple's romance unfolds through stolen glances and clever deception. The intensity is light: some bawdy innuendo, brief sexual scenes played for laughs and tenderness, and a few moments of grim stage peril, with no real gore. It suits a playful weekend watch, a comfort rewatch for lovers of literary romance, and anyone who enjoys witty, costume-rich period comedy with a bittersweet turn.
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