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Sit and watch as the world of William Shakespeare comes to life. Whether set in the future or the distant past, filmmakers have placed Shakespeare’s plays and characters in a wide variety of time periods and settings. See the lineup below. While you’re here, check out our latest exhibition, How William Became Shakespeare: Four Hundred Years of the First Folio.
Saturday, Jan. 13
2:00-4:00 p.m. | Shakespeare Wallah
Shakespeare Wallah, produced in 1965 by Merchant Ivory Productions, tells the story of a traveling band of Shakespearean actors throughout the heartland of India. Based on the true story of Geoffrey Kendel and his family, this film depicts the color and flavor of postcolonial India, highlighting the impact and influence of Shakespearean drama.
4:00-6:00 p.m.| Romeo and Juliet
In 1967, filmmaker and opera-director Franco Zeffirelli embarked on a near-impossible quest– a faithful, accurate adaptation of one of Shakespeare’s most beloved plays– Romeo and Juliet. On location in Italy, actors roughly the same age as the characters in the original source material filmed in palaces and hill-top villages. Considered the best film version of Romeo and Juliet, this is a movie not to miss. Recommended for ages 14+.
6:00-8:00 p.m. | All is True
Breaking from the other films featured in this series, Sir Kenneth Branagh’s All is True depicts the final years of the Bard’s life. Exploring his complicated relationship with his family, the film depicts Shakspeare as a flesh-and-blood man, capable of making mistakes, as well as reflecting on his past. With supporting performances by Dame Judi Dench and Sir Ian McKellan, All is True caps off the Library’s festival with a glimpse into an impossible life. Recommended for ages 14+.
