Ok..I know my exams are all over..but since I'm bored, and I’ve nothing better to do, I’ve decided to analyze Grigori Kozintsev King Lear. I went to KLPac on 10th June and watched Grigori Kozintsev King Lear in Russian. And I’ve came across certain things and I will like to mention those.
Firstly, the film was all black and white. Some of the audience found it really dull. However, Kozintsev did that for a reason. The black and white setting of the play gives more effect and impact towards the audience. Since it’s all black and white, it symbolizes death, mourning and gives a very dark imagery. It doesn’t give a pleasant sight. Kozintsev wants the audience to feel this ruthless place, the dark and dull setting, and the dark imageries, and thus making the audience involved in the play.
The act opens, showing peasants, poor people, and all wearing black attire. All were heading towards King Lear’s castle. Yet, these peasants, weren’t just peasants, but they are peasants with broken leg, with only an eye, scars and marks on their bodies, thin physic, and all sickly looking. This shows that Lear is not one of an ‘ideal king’ that the audience though he would be. He has failed to keep the country right in shape. Lear doesn’t even bother to greet his people when they are all dried up by the sun, sitting and kneeling in front of the castle.
The time where he was dividing his kingdom, Cordelia stood aside wearing white. While others in the play were all dressed in black. Including King Lear himself dressed in black. This illustrates not only symbolizing death but also symbolizes Lear mourning over his own irrational and rash decision in the later scene. It foreshadows Lear’s future. Cordelia’s white garment portrays her innocence and purity. It also symbolizes her death in a way because of her country’s failure in winning the war. (Between France and England).
And I’ve also noticed that, Lear sits down near a burning fire. And he seeks warmth. And he desires that warmth obviously. But it’s such a contrast to Act 4; Scene 5 where he says “..there is the sulphurous pit, burning, scalding, stench, consumption. Fie, fie fie; pah pah!” The repetition of the diction “fie” and “pah” shows how he could feel the burn of Goneril and Regan, the two daughters who betrayed him. The alliteration “f” and “p” makes the character enunciate the word which gives a stronger impact to what he is saying. And thus this shows the pain and hurt Lear has gone through. Shakespeare connects Goneril and Regan as fiends and Lear who seeks warmth at first (referring both to Act 1 and Act 2 when he visits Goneril and Regan for accommodation) now rejecting it. In Act 3; Scene 2, he prefers to be in the storm.
In the storm scene, Lear fights the storm with poor Fool hiding behind him. And the storm pushes Lear backwards. I find this amazing. The storm symbolizes Lear’s state of mind. And since it’s seen like that, I find that the storm (Lear’s mind) is pushing Lear backwards yet Lear still tries to stand firmly and go against it. This symbolizes Lear (storm) wanting to go back and undo his mistakes but yet his ego (Lear’s characteristic) makes him go against that. He could go back to Cordelia, but he doesn’t want to because of his ego.
Some other things I noticed in the film was that the Fool is a boy rather in the BBC Production King Lear, the Fool is man, somewhat to Lear’s age. And in my perspective, why Kozintsev made a boy play Fool, is because the Fool is seen as a jester to the king and a small boy is always seen naïve. But here in this play, the Fool conveys important message behind his jest. In Act 1; Scene 5, “Nor I neither; but I can tell why a snail has a house./ Why, to put’s head in, not to give it away to his daughters, and leave his horns without a case”. It reveals that even though the Fool is a boy and thought to be naïve for his age, yet he knows Lear’s big mistake. This is to illustrate the line of how rash Lear’s decision is and how blind he is that he couldn’t see the mistake that he made before. Hence this evokes the theme of Blindness or Appearance vs. Reality.
In another scene, when Lear was leaving his castle and was going to Goneril’s palace, there was an animal imagery inserted by Kozintsev. There were many white birds flying in the sky. And this symbolizes the many knights (100 knights) that Lear still has. Or it can also symbolize the departure of the oily art. As in, the fake appearance of Cornwall, Regan and Goneril had vanished and their true values are revealed. And in the end of the play, there will be only one white bird flying which symbolizes Cordelia or if we take the first interpretation of the white birds “100 knights” then it symbolizes Kent disguised as Caius.
Other than that, the Fool plays the music in the end of the play. I guess that, that audio imagery can symbolize the beginning of something. Even in Act 1, the music was played, and the betrayal begins and at the end the music was played again to exemplify the beginning of another event because Edgar will be up for the throne.
So yeah, these are the few things I notice in the film. There are other things too but it’s just that the others very obvious. See…I can analyze! Yay!
Me holding a deco found in the '..' can't say!! hehe
Chrish herself holding a deco!!
The Pretty Hui Hui and I. Hui2 you looked fantastic!!
Yes the Gentleman with me here is Por Hai.. He looked handsome innit? Sorry Sukie!! =P
Indeed Sukie, Chrish and I had to have our wonderful shoes camwhore as well!!
Sociology students!!!!! Yupe!!! I love Theresa's attire!!!
Sukie, Ms.Anne, Chrish and I!! Ms. Anne's posing with Chrish's handbag!!! haha
Nicole and I. Gonna miss u gurl!
The sweet Emily and I..i love her dress!!
Best Prom Dress Miss Naz and Me.. I love the curlz we had!
Audrey Darling looking all beautiful doll like!!!!!!!!!
Princess Lips and Me..She's a real princess ya'll!!
Chrish and I!! Doesn't Chrish looks stunning!!!!!!
Me again!!! Hehe!! As usual!! I love taking photos!
Joe Honey, Me and Zaim..!!! We looked great don't we?
Alas!! The girls and Me!!! We all look totally magnificent!
PL2 gurls...
Melly and I...Babe u look hot!
Gary the lucky one had Chrish and I side by side! =P
Clinton the dashing lad with Chrish and I.
Por Hai with his darling Sukie, and me with my darling Chrishandra!
Closeness-Chrish and I!! We're available!!!!
Babes Part 2!!
Ashvin and Us with our cocktails!
Us with Mrs. Ong
