The Tempest (Taymor, 2010)

The Tempest

The Tempest

In Julie Taymor’s version of ‘The Tempest,’ the gender of Prospero has been switched to Prospera. Going back to the 16th or 17th century, women practicing the magical arts of alchemy were often convicted of witchcraft. In Taymor’s version, Prospera is usurped by her brother and sent off with her four-year daughter on a ship. She ends up on an island; it’s a tabula rasa: no society, so the mother figure becomes a father figure to Miranda. This leads to the power struggle and balance between Caliban and Prospera; a struggle not about brawn, but about intellect.

Cast

Helen Mirren as Prospera – the main character; Miranda’s mother and a sorceress
Felicity Jones as Miranda – Prospera’s daughter who falls in love with Ferdinand
Djimon Hounsou as Caliban – Prospera’s slave who, along with Stefano and Trinculo, plots against her
Russell Brand as Trinculo – Alonso’s jester who, along with Stefano, joins forces with Caliban to plot against Prospera
Alfred Molina as Stephano – Alonso’s butler who, along with Trinculo, joins forces with Caliban to plot against Prospera
Chris Cooper as Antonio – Prospera’s brother and Miranda’s uncle
Reeve Carney as Ferdinand – Alonso’s son, who falls in love with Miranda
Alan Cumming as Sebastian – Alonso’s brother
Tom Conti as Gonzalo – a counsellor to Alonso, who gave aid to Prospera and Miranda
David Strathairn as Alonso, King of Naples – Ferdinand’s father and Trinculo and Stefano’s employer
Ben Whishaw as Ariel – a spirit who aids Prospera
Jude Akuwudike as Boatswain

For more information, visit IMDb and Wikipedia.