Ophelia

"Hamlet through her eyes."

2019 1h 54m EN

👍

7.1

SOLID

★7.1TMDB · 620

DramaRomanceHistory

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Ophelia comes of age as lady-in-waiting for Queen Gertrude, and her singular spirit captures Hamlet's affections. As lust and betrayal threaten the kingdom, Ophelia finds herself trapped between true love and controlling her own destiny.

“Hamlet through her eyes.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Daisy Ridley
Ophelia
Naomi Watts
Queen Gertrude / Mechtild
Clive Owen
Claudius
George MacKay
Hamlet
Tom Felton
Laertes
Devon Terrell
Horatio
Nathaniel Parker
King Hamlet
Dominic Mafham
Polonius

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Claire McCarthy
Writers: Semi Chellas
Languages: English
Countries: United Kingdom, United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 2% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 7 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: United Kingdom, United States of America.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Claire McCarthy, shot by Denson Baker. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Steven Price. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Luke Dunkley shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Daisy Ridley and Naomi Watts and Clive Owen carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Hamlet through her eyes.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Claire McCarthy directs. Denson Baker behind the camera. Steven Price scores. Luke Dunkley cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in United Kingdom, United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Earned back only 2% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
2Released 7 years ago.
3International production across 2 countries: United Kingdom, United States of America.
4Directed by Claire McCarthy, shot by Denson Baker. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Steven Price. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Luke Dunkley shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Daisy Ridley and Naomi Watts and Clive Owen carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "Hamlet through her eyes.".
9IMDB entry: tt5690810 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Denson Baker
Original score: Steven Price
Editing: Luke Dunkley
Production design: David Warren
Costume design: Massimo Cantini Parrini
Makeup / hair: Flora Moody
VFX supervisor: Sebastian Barker
Sound: Jay Price
Stunt coordinator: Pavel Cajzl
Runtime: 114 min · 1h 54m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $12,000,000
Box office: $242,115
Return: 2% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): PG-13
IMDB: Ophelia (2019)

Also by

Claire McCarthy

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Community reviews

What people are saying

SWITCH.2019-07-26
★ 6/10
‘Ophelia’ was fine by way of entertainment, but it doesn't do justice to the intricacies of the original story. It doesn't portray Hamlet’s quick-witted nature, Polonius’s shit-stirring, or Claudius’s grappling with guilt. It's incredible in all elements of filmmaking, but lacks the true heart and layers of Shakespeare's work. - Lily Meek Read Lily's full article... https://www.maketheswitch.com.au/article/review-ophelia-shakespeares-hamlet-with-a-modern-twist
CinemaSerf2022-03-28
★ 5/10
Now I have to start by saying that this is not a good film, but - it does try to introduce Shakespeare to a new audience who would not have seen, nor would sit through, Olivier, Branagh or McKellan in full tilt with the skull of poor old "Yorick", and for that goal alone, it ought to be given a chance. This version is told from the perspective of "Ophelia" (Daisy Ridley) following her exploits as she in taken under the wing of "Queen Gertude" (Naomi Watts) and of her ensuing passion for "Hamlet" (George MacKay) who has been usurped for his dead father's throne by his uncle "Claudius" (Clive Owen). The story has been very heavily adapted to facilitate the new narrative perspective and as such it loses a great deal of it's potency and nuance - Clive Owen and Tom Felton ("Laertes") are shockingly wooden; as is the normally engagingly absurd partnership of "Rosencrantz" (Noel Czuczor) & Guidenstern (Martin Angerbauer). It descends quickly into a rather melodramatic love story losing much of the tension, emotional power and tragedy leading to a seriously underwhelming conclusion.
JPV8522026-08-30
★ 6/10
Serviceable if not flat adaptation of Hamlet from Ophelia's POV. While Naomi Watts was good everyone else didn't make much of an impression though I suppose, like the film itself, they were fine including Daisy Ridley in the titular role. On the plus side the costumes and set design was great. 3.0/5