Henry V - Film :: essays research papers

The picture palace uses mingled techniques to present a particular view of the struggle against France. What is that interpretation and how does the film convey it?Although the Branagh version of Shakespe atomic number 18s total heat V remains very close to the text, with completely a few lines left out of the film, the movie portrays a very clear and different message about war and Branaghs opinion on the matter. Henry V is fundamentally a play about war, and it would have been very easy for Branagh to take form his version of the play into a film that glorified war. Instead, Branagh took the fortune to make a statement about what he felt was the true essence of wars - twain medieval and modern.It is clear through Henry V that Branagh thinks that wars are a waste of precious human life, and in the end are fruitless, causing to a greater extent loss than gain. From the very first battle at Harfleur Branaghs downhearted opinion of war is shown. When we first see the fighti ng, it is dusk and the sky is further darkened by smoke, instantly creating a morbid feeling. Combined with the muddy and prankish terrain, the cheerless soldiers and the overbearing size of the castle which they hope to achieve, it is clear not only that the English army must fight against all the odds to win, merely that even the conditions are detrimental to the English cause.The shooting where Bardolph, Nym and Pistol are backing absent from the battle to save themselves is an important inclusion to the film. Had Branagh intended the film to be a glorification of war, this small scene could have easily been removed. However, he chose to backup it in his film because it actually assists the message which he attempts to convey. This scene, although calm clearly comical, as Shakespeare intended it to be, it implies that not all soldiers are valiant and brave and that war is so terrible that soldiers are willing to desert their friends and mate countrymen because of the hide ous nature of war.After the battle of Harfluer is won by the English and they begin to make their mien towards Agincourt, Branagh seizes the opportunity to show the viewer the victorious army. Although he could have shown them to be joyful with their win, Branagh instead shows the war-weary, bloody, wet and muddy soldiers. It is raining and so the already miserable soldiers, corroding torn and ragged clothing are forced to remit their heads as they slowly make their focussing down the road in a way reminiscent of a death march, the sombre mood of the scene assisted by the music.Henry V - Film essays research papers The film uses various techniques to present a particular view of the war against France. What is that interpretation and how does the film convey it?Although the Branagh version of Shakespeares Henry V remains very close to the text, with only a few lines left out of the film, the movie portrays a very clear and distinct message about war and Branaghs opinion on th e matter. Henry V is fundamentally a play about war, and it would have been very easy for Branagh to make his version of the play into a film that glorified war. Instead, Branagh took the opportunity to make a statement about what he felt was the true essence of wars - both medieval and modern.It is clear through Henry V that Branagh thinks that wars are a waste of precious human life, and in the end are fruitless, causing more loss than gain. From the very first battle at Harfleur Branaghs low opinion of war is shown. When we first see the fighting, it is dusk and the sky is further darkened by smoke, instantly creating a morbid feeling. Combined with the muddy and wet terrain, the cheerless soldiers and the overbearing size of the castle which they hope to achieve, it is clear not only that the English army must fight against all the odds to win, but that even the conditions are detrimental to the English cause.The scene where Bardolph, Nym and Pistol are backing away from the bat tle to save themselves is an important inclusion to the film. Had Branagh intended the film to be a glorification of war, this small scene could have easily been removed. However, he chose to keep it in his film because it actually assists the message which he attempts to convey. This scene, although still clearly comical, as Shakespeare intended it to be, it implies that not all soldiers are valiant and brave and that war is so terrible that soldiers are willing to desert their friends and fellow countrymen because of the hideous nature of war.After the battle of Harfluer is won by the English and they begin to make their way towards Agincourt, Branagh seizes the opportunity to show the viewer the victorious army. Although he could have shown them to be joyful with their win, Branagh instead shows the war-weary, bloody, wet and muddy soldiers. It is raining and so the already miserable soldiers, wearing torn and ragged clothing are forced to bow their heads as they slowly make thei r way down the road in a way reminiscent of a death march, the sombre mood of the scene assisted by the music.