Kenneth Branagh’s Love’s Labor’s Lost:Contrast and Harmony between Romance and Reality.

Abstract

Kenneth Branagh's Love's Labor's Lost not only displays the potential value of Shakespeare's play, but also upgrades this long-neglected early comedy of the Bard. Branagh makes an effective use of musical in order to fully realize the rich romanticism of this comedy about multiple pairs of lovers. In this movie, songs and dances heighten the atmosphere of romantic courtship, and the lyrics of twentieth-century musicals are incorporated with Shakespeare's verses in perfect harmony. On the other hand, Branagh emphasizes the main theme of Shakespeare's play-the conflict between happy romanticism and harsh realism-by choosing the period around the World War Ⅱ as the setting of his movie. In addition to the news of the French king's death, with which Shakespeare's play ends, Branagh shows all the horrible scenes of war. He shows the sufferings of the main characters-fatal fight, imprisonment, and even death-in order to emphasize the cruel realities that obstruct their romantic pursuits. Especially, Branagh's incorporation of Shakespeare's play with the Hollywood musicals of the 1930s effectively convey this contrast between romance and reality. Branagh also boldly changes the ending of Shakespeare's play; he gives a happy ending to the play in order to show the harmony between romance and reality. In his movie the romantic couples are reunited after suffering extreme pains during the six years of World War II and their love, schooled in the harsh realities of life, finally attain maturity and perfection. Using the Hollywood musical of the 1930s and thereabouts in this movie thus strengthens the play's atmosphere and message, but works against box office because of most moviegoers' ignorance of the period's cultural background. Although Branagh is aware of this disadvantage, he holds fast to his principle of placing artistry over popularity or profit. His movie, despite its failure in box office, will be remembered as one of the best films that not only reveals the essence of Shakespeare's Love's Lobor's Lost but also enhances its value.