Below are some questions that I would like you to keep in mind when you view Kenneth Branagh's adaptation of Henry V. We will spend some time discussing your answers during Monday's class. The insights gained from this exercise will also help you in your thinking about your performance troupes: it will help you think about the choices a director makes when adapting a play's text. Please write out short responses to each question.
1. Were particular scenes acted in ways that diverged significantly from your prior interpretation of the play? How so? Choose one (or more) scene(s) and explain how Branagh's interpretation of it changed or enhanced your understanding of the play.
2. Were there particular moments in the movie that you thought were very effective translations of the play into film? What were these moments? Why did they work well?
3. Were there moments that seemed ineffective on film? Again, what were these moments? Why were you dissatisfied?
4. A number of cuts were made by the director in order to compress the play into a two hour feature film--Do you agree with all the cuts that were made? Are there some scenes that you thought should have been included that were not? Why? Similarly, did Branagh retain scenes that you thought could have been dropped? Explain your reasoning.
5. What new insights did the film give you into the play?