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Plot

Puzzle-master Peter Greenaway exposes another aspect of his peculiar obsessions to the filmgoing public. Prospero's Books uses Shakespeare as a foundation and then skips along to define its own lush territory. The books of the title are briefly referenced in The Tempest -- Prospero is a magician who gets to keep only a small fragment of his enormous library when he is exiled with his daughter to an enchanted island. In the film, Prospero is played by Sir John Gielgud. Indeed, everybody is voiced by Gielgud as he describes the events that unfold. But mostly, he describes the books, and as he does, the screen fills with florid calligraphies, astonishing diagrams, extravagant paintings, and lots and lots of naked people.
MPAA Rating:
R for pervasive nudity.
Genre(s):
Foreign
Run Time:
129min.
Theatrical Release Date:
11/11/1991
Distributor(s):
Miramax
Director(s):
Peter Greenaway
Starring:
John Gielgud , Michael Clark , Michel Blanc , Erland Josephson , Isabelle Pasco
Themes:
Fathers and Daughters
Tone:
Cerebral,Fanciful,Meditative,Talky,Lavish,Stylized,Literate
Keywords:
book,brother,daughter,enemy,evil,exile,island,library,magic,philosophy,politician,revenge,shipwreck,sorcerer,storm,stranded,supernatural-forces,surrealism
Country of Origin:
USA (11-15-1991)
Language:
English