Much Ado

Much Ado

A fresh adaptation of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing is played out in a house of university students, whose party spins out of control.

When a university rugby team run into engine trouble deep in the English countryside they seek refuge with local businessman Leonato, his teeange daughter Hero and niece Beatrice. Beatrice is shocked to come face to face with her ex-boyfriend Benedick but she manages to keep up a strong front, swearing off all men. Hero, on the other hand, is smitten with Claudio, the team’s rising star. Winning Hero’s heart is treated like a competition between Claudio and the captain of the rugby team – and alpha male – Pedro. But things get really complicated when Claudio and Hero announce their engagement…

John, Pedro’s lesser brother, is sick of being ignored and determined to exact revenge on the lot of them. He convinces Claudio to jilt Hero, who then puts her own life in jeopardy, running away from home after her father blames her for the whole ordeal. Beatrice, disraught after her cousin’s downfall, finds comfort in Benedick. Feelings come rushing back and after confessing their love they spend night together. But things look different in the morning when Benedick is reluctant to stand up to his friends over their mistreatment of Hero. The family’s only hope is the wacky Friar Francis’ foolproof plan: pretend Hero is dead.

Using the original dialogue but with a modern twist this genre defying movie sees the young director duo revolutionise the way Shakespeare as been done. In mixing naturalism with Shakespearean dialogue they have created a new style, which they have dubbed ‘mumblecore Shakespeare’. It is Shakespeare for their generation.

Director: Hillary & Anna-Elizabeth Shakespeare
115 minutes