A Midsummer Night's Dream (1999)
from Reel Deep Dive Hosted by Ryan Valentine
Arguably the most fantastical (and sexy) of the Bard's comedies, A Midsummer Night's Dream was first adapted into a movie in 1925 and has received numerous treatments since. This podcast episode delves into a 1999 Hollywood treatment directed by Michael Hoffman and starring Kevin Kline, Anna Friel, Stanley Tucci, Christian Bale, Rupert Everett, Michelle Pfeiffer, Calista Flockhart, Dominic West, and a whole lot of bicycles. This take on the story received lukewarm reviews and tepid box office, but Ryan has a soft spot for this one and he really wanted to talk about it on record. He's joined by Sylvan and Cheryl. Discussion topics include the play's approach to sexuality, the story's historical blind spots to patriarchy, how the film tries to expand the depth of Bottom without altering the source material's text, and what A Midsummer Night's Dream has to say about the tragical farce of the failed artist.
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