Ophelia is the latest feature from Australian director Claire McCarthy, and her first film in 7 years. Based on a novel by Lisa Klein, it tells the story of Shakespeare's Hamlet, as seen from the perspective of Hamlet's betrothed Ophelia.
The film is beautifully shot and full of strong performances, especially from Clive Owen as Hamlet's uncle Claudius. Though it fails to reinvent a story as powerful and timeless as Hamlet, it does a good job of presenting it in a new and original way. The film will appeal to adult audiences, as although it is not in the original Shakespearean language, it is nonetheless a costume drama.
