Coriolanus (2011)

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Movie
German title Coriolanus
Original title Coriolanus
Country of production United Kingdom
original language English
Publishing year 2011
length 123 minutes
Age rating FSK 16
Rod
Director Ralph Fiennes
script John Logan
production Ralph Fiennes
music Ilan Eshkeri
camera Barry Ackroyd
cut Nicolas Gaster
occupation

Coriolanus is a British historical drama from the year 2011 and the first film directed by actor Ralph Fiennes . The plot is based on the tragedy Coriolanus by William Shakespeare , in which the Roman patrician and war hero Caius Martius Coriolanus turns vengefully against his own people. The ancient model is a story in the 2nd book of the history of Titus Livius "Ab urbe condita". In the film, however, the plot is moved to the 21st century. The film was shown in the international competition of the 61st Berlinale . Filming began in March 2010 and took place in Belgrade , among other places .

action

There is riot in a modern Rome because of the denial of grain supplies. The citizens' displeasure is directed primarily against the Roman general Caius Martius , whom they blame for the problems. Martius, however, has only contempt for the citizens and lets the police bludgeon the crowd calling for bread. The Volscians take advantage of the inner turmoil of the Romans and declare war on Rome.

The commander of the Volsk army, Tullus Aufidius, who fought a few times against Martius, sees him as a mortal enemy and wants to defeat him in the next battle at all costs, a feeling that is shared by Martius. Martius leads an attack against the Volscian city of Corioli on the front line. After a bitter struggle, most of his men are killed by a booby trap. Meanwhile, in Rome, Coriolan's mother Volumnia speaks to his wife Virgilia. Virgilia is concerned that Coriolanus could be injured. However, Volumnia explains that these wounds are cenotaphs and that if she had a dozen sons, she would rather see eleven die than see just one idle. In Corioli, Martius storms forward alone and kills several opponents. After running out of ammunition for his assault rifle, he continues fighting with his pistol. He fired several times through locked doors, killing several civilians. When his pistol ran out of ammunition too, he killed an opposing soldier in close combat with a knife. Smeared with blood, he meets other Roman soldiers who thought he was dead. Despite his injuries, Martius wants to continue the attack. Although his men are initially hesitant, Martius mockingly explains that he would attack alone if necessary. The embarrassed soldiers then follow him in a second attack. Martius and Aufidius meet and begin a duel with knives. Both eventually rush into a courtyard, where they are stunned by a grenade striking nearby. The dazed generals are dragged away by their respective soldiers. Aufidius is bitter about being beaten by Martius for the fifth time, but he doesn't want to give up the fight.

Martius returns to Rome glorious and receives the nickname "Coriolanus" in a solemn ceremony by General Cominius. Even in the Senate, Martius was compulsively humble and choked off a speech of praise from Cominius. His gaping wounds are nothing but scratches and not worthy of admiration. His mother Volumnia encourages her son to become consul in the Roman Senate . Coriolanus hesitates, but eventually complies with his mother's request. The two tribunes Brutus and Sicinius view his entry into politics critically, however, as they fear for their own power. As usual, Coriolanus shows himself to the people to get their approval. Traditionally, the nominees show the people their scars to prove that they fought worthily in the war. However, Coriolanus refuses to show his impressive collection of scars of no fewer than 27 wounds. In addition to this affront, Coriolanus is unfriendly and awkward. However, he's also honest, so the crowd eventually nominates him. The tribunes present incite the crowd, however, so that this Coriolanus almost lynches in the end. His angry and surly answers don't make matters any better.

Nevertheless, the Senate decides to vote on Coriolanus as consul. However, the tribunes agitate among the plebeians , so that they besiege the Senate in an angry mob. Coriolanus steps outside and is accused of treason by a tribune. In a rage, Coriolanus rushes to the tribune and can only barely be held back.

However, the tribunes are inviolable by law and any attack on them is high treason. The tribunes are calling for the death penalty. With great difficulty, a Coriolanus friendly senator manages to change the sentence to exile.

Coriolanus then visits Aufidius in the Volscian city of Antium . He offers him his help in an attack on Rome and begs for a command. Aufidius is touched and lets him lead the army. However, Coriolanus is so successful and subsequently popular with the troops, many of whom shave their bald heads in the style of Coriolanus, that Aufidius is increasingly suspicious of him. Under Coriolanus' leadership, the Volscians conquered large areas and soon stood before Rome. His friend Menenius begs Coriolanus to spare Rome, but is rejected. Senator Menenius then takes his own life by cutting open his wrists. Eventually Coriolanus' mother Volumnia and his wife Virgilia and their son are sent to slow down Coriolanus. The women threaten to kill themselves, and Coriolanus' son symbolically drags a war flag across the floor. When all three finally kneel before him and beg him for mercy, Coriolanus gives in. Coriolanus and General Titus sign a peace treaty.

As a result, he is considered a traitor by Aufidius and his men. They call him Martius and refuse to address him by "his stolen name". Aufidius invokes Coriolanus' promise and kills him with his men.

Reviews

Elmar Krekeler wrote in Die Welt on February 14, 2011: “Fiennes made a timeless parable out of“ Coriolanus ”, which beneficially abstains from any direct political message, a film like a fist.“ The weekly Focus praised the “intelligent staging” of the Films and the "wonderful game" by Vanessa Redgrave and James Nesbitt. The film is an "event". Peter von Becker , who reviewed the film for Tagesspiegel , was significantly less enthusiastic : “Fiennes as his own leading actor embodies the contemptuous, irascible and vain war hero, rebel and traitor to the country, Coriolan, with dramatic verve. But even with him you are constantly annoyed by the discrepancy between what is spoken and what is shown. Above all, the political scenes at today's locations in Belgrade and Dalmatia, with their “tribunes”, “consuls” and “senators” as well as some “people” statists, appear frighteningly wooden, staffage-like, paper crackling.

Awards

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Approval certificate for Coriolanus . Voluntary self-regulation of the film industry , April 2012 (PDF; test number: 132 454 V).
  2. ↑ Ralph Fiennes makes directorial debut in Serbia , AFP , March 17, 2010, accessed March 6, 2012.
  3. ↑ Elmar Krekeler: Ralph Fiennes shows Shakespeare brutal , welt.de, accessed on March 6, 2012.
  4. ↑ Ralph Fiennes triumphs with Coriolanus , article on focus.de from February 14, 2011, accessed on March 6, 2012.
  5. ↑ Peter von Becker: Shakespeare in brav , article in Tagesspiegel from February 14, 2011, accessed on March 6, 2012.