Consistent of only two long shots, three witches predict that Macbeth will ascend to the throne of Scotland. To fulfill this prophecy, Lady Macbeth convinces her husband to murder King Duncan, who has come to spend the night at their home. This crime plunges the new ruler into a macabre spiral that will lead him to sink into guilt and madness.
Direction
Tarr's suffocating two-shot structure traps you with Macbeth.
Cinematography
Grimy black-and-white that reeks of sweat and blood.
Acting
Cserhalmi's haunted eyes carry entire kingdom's collapse.
Director
Béla Tarr
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Tarr filmed this for Hungarian television with virtually no budget, yet it's now considered one of the most visually distinctive Shakespeare adaptations.
The entire film was shot in a single day in a cramped apartment, with Tarr using long takes to force audiences to sit with guilt rather than escape it through editing.
HU
