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Prospero's Books

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Prospero's Books

R

Released Nov 15, 1991

2h 1m

Drama

Fantasy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

62%

Tomatometer

26 Reviews

83%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Shakespeare's exiled duke (John Gielgud) tells his tale in calligraphy in this version of "The Tempest."

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Critics Consensus

There is no middle ground for viewers of Peter Greenaway's work, but for his fans, Prospero's Books is reliably daring.

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Variety Staff

Variety

The product of a feverish, overflowing imagination, this almost impossibly dense take on The Tempest displays both the director's audacious brilliance and lewd extravagance at full tilt.

Jul 3, 2008

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

Gone is any sense of drama or character; the cluttered spectacle yields no overriding design but simply disconnected MTV-like conceits or mini-ideas every three seconds.

Jul 3, 2008

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Geoff Andrew

Time Out

To some degree, the relentless proliferation of ideas smothers the dramatic highs and lows, but this is a minor quibble compared to the sheer ambition and audacity of the overall conception.

Feb 9, 2006

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Terry Francis

Southern Voice (Atlanta)

The film's high-culture chic is certified by the endless stream of writhing, naked bodies -- Cecil B. De Mille must be drooling in his grave -- and the vivid optical effects keep you alert even as the story fails to grip.

Rated: 2/4

May 8, 2023

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Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

Prospero's Books is alarming megalomania and self-serving fantasy on a grand scale. [Full review in Spanish]

Dec 9, 2022

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TV Guide

Does it work? That depends on whether you find Greenaway's elaborate visual conceits and rarified narrative structures daring and liberating, or boringly self-indulgent.

Rated: 3/4

Jul 3, 2008

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Jacob B

Sir John Gielgud had long desired to do a film adaptation of “The Tempest”— I doubt in his wildest dreams he ever thought it would come to fruition via the genius of Peter Greenaway and his unbelievably fascinating visual style. Hallucinatory, dreamlike and one of the most truly cinematic adaptations of Shakespeare ever.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/11/25

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Mst Taslima A

It's an excellent book.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/11/24

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Masonik A

Probably one of the greatest films ever made... ironically based on a play. everything I want in film is here!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/17/24

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Audience Member

William Shakespeare's play of the Tempest is adapted by director Peter Greenaway This is the story of Prospero's past and his revenge... A magician/duke named Prospero was banished from his coveted library to an island He only has his daughter with him as comfort Yet he finds revenge in writing a story narrating each of the characters But the snag is that his daughter, Miranda starts to fall in love with the son of his chief enemy named Ferdinand The movie is most ostensibly known for its use of nudity throughout but it draws inspiration from many Renaissance paintings Yet the nude actors and extras represent a cross-section of male and female humanity So it's more for poetic storytelling purposes than being erogenous It's a visual splendor no doubt and there's massive attention to detail reciting Shakespeare's play It will work or won't for viewers depending on whether you find Greenaway's elaborate visual conceits and rarified narrative structures daring and liberating, or boringly self-indulgent No middle ground for sure but for fans of this late poet they will get their fill

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

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robert m

Whoa! This is mind-bending stuff. A cult classic. It's not Shakespeare as told in junior high school but it wil take you inside of Prospero's mind. Enjoy the trip.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

John Gielgud reading Shakespeare as only he can, along with dizzying visuals. what more could one ask for ?

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/19/23

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Peter Greenaway

Director

John Gielgud

Prospero

Michael Clark

Caliban

Michel Blanc

Alonso

Erland Josephson

Gonzalo

Isabelle Pasco

Miranda

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Synopsis

Shakespeare's exiled duke (John Gielgud) tells his tale in calligraphy in this version of "The Tempest."

Director: Peter Greenaway
Producer: Kees Kasander
Screenwriter: William Shakespeare, Peter Greenaway
Distributor: Miramax Films
Production Co: Miramax
Rating: R
Genre: Drama, Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 15, 1991, Original
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.1M
Runtime: 2h 1m
Sound Mix: Surround

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