Love's Labour's Lost (film)
| Love's Labour's Lost | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Kenneth Branagh |
| Produced by |
David Barron Kenneth Branagh |
| Written by | Kenneth Branagh |
| Based on |
Love's Labour's Lost by William Shakespeare |
| Starring | Kenneth Branagh Nathan Lane Adrian Lester Matthew Lillard Natascha McElhone Alessandro Nivola Alicia Silverstone Timothy Spall |
| Music by | Patrick Doyle |
| Cinematography | Alex Thomson |
| Edited by | Neil Farrell |
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Production
company |
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| Distributed by |
Buena Vista Pictures (United States) Pathé (United Kingdom) |
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Release date
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31 March 2000 |
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Running time
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93 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $13 million |
| Box office | $299,792 |
Love's Labour's Lost is a 2000 adaptation of the comic play of the same name by William Shakespeare, directed by and starring Kenneth Branagh. It was the first feature film to be made of this lesser-known comedy. Branagh's fourth film of a Shakespeare play (he did not direct the 1995 Othello, although he did play Iago), Love's Labour's Lost was a box-office and critical disappointment.
Branagh's film turns Love's Labour's Lost into a romantic Hollywood musical. Set and costume design evoke the Europe of 1939; the music (classic Broadway songs of the 1930s) and newsreel-style footage are also chief period details. The cast includes Shakespearean veterans such as Timothy Spall, Richard Briers and Geraldine McEwan, alongside Hollywood actors Alicia Silverstone and Matthew Lillard and Broadway and West End stars such as Nathan Lane.
As a result of its poor commercial performance, Miramax shelved its three-picture deal with Branagh, who subsequently returned to Shakespeare with As You Like It in 2006.
The King of Navarre has vowed to avoid romantic entanglements to spend three years in study and contemplation. His chief courtiers agree to follow him in this vow, though one (Berowne) argues that they will not be able to fulfil this plan.
Berowne's claim is proven correct almost instantly. The Princess of France comes to Navarre to discuss the status of the province of Aquitaine. Though the King does not grant them access to his palace (they are forced to camp outside), each of the courtiers falls in love with one of her handmaidens, and the King falls in love with the Princess herself.
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Wikipedia