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Original poster

Best version of Macbeth to watch for GCSE

82 replies

weightandmeasure · 26/03/2022 09:58

I've said I'll sit down with DD over Easter and watch Macbeth with her. It's one of her GCSE texts and she's struggling with it. The school seems to teach it it a very disjointed way and we've come to the conclusion she's not got proper understanding of how it all fits. However there are a lot of different film versions available. Any recommendations on one that will best help a reluctant GCSE student? We think it's between the recent The Tragedy of Macbeth with Denzel Washington (gets great reviews) and the one with Micheal Fassbender from 2015 which is supposed to be pretty faithful to the script. DD quite fancies the Denzel version but has anyone seen it and is it relatively faithful to the play or will it confuse her?

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TottersBlankly · 26/03/2022 10:10

Is it not at all possible for her to see the play performed at a theatre? (Perhaps she already has - but essentially it was written for the stage so that’s where she’d experience all its complexity and nuance most fully.) It’s good to see more than one stage production as the differences prompt questions about interpretation.

Alternatively or in addition, any theatre production is likely to have a good deal of dedicated content on its website - particularly in a year when the play is on the GCSE syllabus. Example:

www.rsc.org.uk/macbeth/

As regards films - the more the better, surely? They’re each the scriptwriters’ and directors interpretations of an adaptation - none is definitive. A play is a fluid thing - she’s never going to be able to pin it down to a single set of meanings.

keiratwiceknightly · 26/03/2022 10:15

As an English teacher, the version I find students relate to most is the ancient Roman Polanski/Playboy one. (Yes I know it's problematic for reasons of abuse etc.) it looks right, is clear and mostly faithful to the text, and students who just need to get the story sorted aren't distracted by modern dress or clever interpretations that mostly go over their heads. Once she moves beyond that level of understanding, she could watch a few versions to really get it.

ChicCroissant · 26/03/2022 10:18

I'd see if you can get any of the old BBC versions from the 1970's, they are usually good. And as the PP said, keep an eye out for theatre productions. It is meant to be heard, not read and does come alive a bit more (I find it really dry to read!).

Macbeth is also on for next year's GCSE, my own DD is studying it at the moment!

MrsCobbit · 26/03/2022 10:18

The RSC resources are great. I personally use the RSC Christopher Eccleston version.

Original poster
weightandmeasure · 26/03/2022 10:18

Covid put a stop to any possible theatre trips and there's nothing on locally.

Thanks for the link- very helpful. Interesting about the different versions etc. Honestly we're a bit out of our depth here- I'm a statistician, DD is very STEM focused and I think she's just hoping to understand it enough to get her 7 and move on. I remember doing it years ago for O level (I'm that old!) and it was taught more as a whole play rather than these disjointed chunks... she hadn't even been shown a version in class!

She does however have 21 pages of notes on all the characters to learn but no idea about how they interact.

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RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 26/03/2022 10:19

The Polanski one is definitely closest in terms of period and lack of confusion.

The Patrick Stewart one has excellent witches and a brilliant Lady Macbeth.

Original poster
weightandmeasure · 26/03/2022 10:19

@MrsCobbit

The RSC resources are great. I personally use the RSC Christopher Eccleston version.
That sounds interesting! She loves Dr WhoSmile
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springtimeishereagain · 26/03/2022 10:21

We watched the Fassbender one last weekend! I liked it but it's very dark - literally - lots of candlelit and lamp lit shots - and a lot of the dialogue is in whispers so I had to keep putting the sound up and down. Having said that, it's a good production with lots of imagery - red - and shows the changing relationship between the Macbeths well.

I've also got ds the Macbeth revision cards.

His English teacher recommended watching the new version on Apple TV too, but we don't have a subscription...

Pinkdelight3 · 26/03/2022 10:22

Yeah the Polanski one is clearest in many ways. I didn't like the Denzel one, it was highly stylised and distancing and some of the ideas - the single witch - won't necessarily be helpful for a straightforward take. I did like the Fassbender one, but again it's got ideas in there - like the Macbeth's being bereaved parents - that aren't necessarily useful for GCSE level. The Polanski is the one I'd go for overall.

Taswama · 26/03/2022 10:22

Following for ideas too.
DS is in year 10 so might yet get to see it in the theatre before next year. He's recently seen Jeckyll and Hyde and school have managed to find An Inspector Calls production in the autumn, but Macbeth doesn't seem to be on anywhere.

Original poster
weightandmeasure · 26/03/2022 10:22

@keiratwiceknightly

As an English teacher, the version I find students relate to most is the ancient Roman Polanski/Playboy one. (Yes I know it's problematic for reasons of abuse etc.) it looks right, is clear and mostly faithful to the text, and students who just need to get the story sorted aren't distracted by modern dress or clever interpretations that mostly go over their heads. Once she moves beyond that level of understanding, she could watch a few versions to really get it.
Thank you. That's exactly what we're looking for. I admit I saw Polanski/ playboy and thought..."No" but she really doesn't need clever interpretations...
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springtimeishereagain · 26/03/2022 10:22

They should have read the whole thing in class though... they need to see how it all hangs together...

Original poster
weightandmeasure · 26/03/2022 10:23

@springtimeishereagain

We watched the Fassbender one last weekend! I liked it but it's very dark - literally - lots of candlelit and lamp lit shots - and a lot of the dialogue is in whispers so I had to keep putting the sound up and down. Having said that, it's a good production with lots of imagery - red - and shows the changing relationship between the Macbeths well.

I've also got ds the Macbeth revision cards.

His English teacher recommended watching the new version on Apple TV too, but we don't have a subscription...

Macbeth revision cards? Tell me more......
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Original poster
weightandmeasure · 26/03/2022 10:24

@Pinkdelight3

Yeah the Polanski one is clearest in many ways. I didn't like the Denzel one, it was highly stylised and distancing and some of the ideas - the single witch - won't necessarily be helpful for a straightforward take. I did like the Fassbender one, but again it's got ideas in there - like the Macbeth's being bereaved parents - that aren't necessarily useful for GCSE level. The Polanski is the one I'd go for overall.
Thank you. Helpful.
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Original poster
weightandmeasure · 26/03/2022 10:25

@springtimeishereagain

They should have read the whole thing in class though... they need to see how it all hangs together...
They read it during lockdown. Imagine a class of faceless initials on a teams call reading it haltingly...
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BattledoreAndShuttlecock · 26/03/2022 10:27

I'd also go for the Polanski version, you might think that a fifty year old film won't engage her, but it was designed as a mainstream crowd pleasing movie and it's very accessible for teens.

The Eccleston RSC was good as well as a more quirky follow-up watch.

TottersBlankly · 26/03/2022 10:27

I remember doing it years ago for O level (I'm that old!) and it was taught more as a whole play rather than these disjointed chunks

Yup, me too. I can’t begin to understand current teaching methods. Hmm

Which text is she using?

Taswama · 26/03/2022 10:30

Does anyone know where you can get hold of the RSC one?
I remember there being some Shakespeare on iPlayer during lockdown but it all seems to have disappeared now.

Gilmorehill · 26/03/2022 10:32

What a shame your dd hasn’t enjoyed it. I’ve seen Macbeth several times and agree the Polanski version is good for students. It might be good to actually watch different versions. Have you bought the York notes for Macbeth. That will give you summaries of key themes, characters etc and selective quotes to use as evidence.

ChicCroissant · 26/03/2022 10:36

This thread has now got me looking at eBay for versions of Macbeth, The Globe has one and we visited the theatre recently so that might go down well (or as well as any attempt to watch Macbeth will do).

I also date from the days when studying the play meant starting at the start and working your way through ....

Original poster
weightandmeasure · 26/03/2022 10:38

@Gilmorehill

What a shame your dd hasn’t enjoyed it. I’ve seen Macbeth several times and agree the Polanski version is good for students. It might be good to actually watch different versions. Have you bought the York notes for Macbeth. That will give you summaries of key themes, characters etc and selective quotes to use as evidence.
It is a shame. I think covid impacted so much. I didn't do English after my O level but can still remember the play, quote parts if it, have fond memories of enjoying it and having really interesting discussions. DD had lockdown, FIVE teachers in 2 years and whatever disjointed teaching horror approach the government has decreed approved. She sees the study of English as another "task"- learn the methods, answer each question using the approved acronym approach, memorise quotes etc. She still reads for pleasure (currently reading The Stand!) but feels that there's no link between the books she enjoys reading and the study of English.
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PollyPutTheKettleOnKettleOn · 26/03/2022 10:39

I think the Globe has its own version of iplayer? Worth checking out they might have performances filmed and online.
Also digital theatre website and the national theatre might have some performances online too.
Sparknotes was always a good one for revision and understanding iirc

Also she should speak to her teacher and let her know she's struggling, she should be able to get some help.

Original poster
weightandmeasure · 26/03/2022 10:45

@PollyPutTheKettleOnKettleOn

I think the Globe has its own version of iplayer? Worth checking out they might have performances filmed and online. Also digital theatre website and the national theatre might have some performances online too. Sparknotes was always a good one for revision and understanding iirc

Also she should speak to her teacher and let her know she's struggling, she should be able to get some help.

The thing is she's clever and reasonably diligent. She got a high 6 in her recent mock by simply following the rote steps to answering questions and she's good at memorising stuff. Teacher very confident she'll get at least a 7 in the exams which is fine for her as her A levels will be maths, FM, physics and chemistry. It's a big class and there are lots of children who will struggle to get a 4 so I think the focus is more at that end of the class. I absolutely don't blame the teacher. She's only been in place for 3 months, she's new to the school, new to teaching and the exams are in a couple of months. I think we're on our own here....
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Netty909 · 26/03/2022 10:47

I remember reading the whole play then watching The Roman Polanski version during our English lessons whilst studying for GCSE,though we were surprised when Keith Chegwin popped up in it. A study guide was really helpful explaining words and phrases helped. I haven't seen any new versions, think it put me off !