Pacino in Richard III Essay

Our main goal with this project is to reach out to an audience who would not normally participate in this kind of language and world.

To what extent does Pacino achieve this?

Pacino effectively achieves his goal to reach out to his audience who wouldnt normally participate in the Shakespearian language and world through the use of modernised techniques. This is evident in the use of a changed medium of production from a play to an informative documentary, through use of commentary and by choosing particular scenes from King Richard III to portray the world of Shakespeare and its meaning. Importantly, the universality of Shakespearian theatre is portrayed particularly through King Richard III through Pacinos ability to interpret and adapt the play to a modern context. However, the director uses satire to expose the ignorance of his society, although in doing so, he is mocking those he is seeking to inform. Therefore this could jeopardise his aim.

In order for Pacino to make Shakespeare and King Richard III more accessible and appealing to his context, that being America in the 1990s, he altered the medium of production so that he could educate this audience on a more personal level. Consequently amateur camera techniques make the documentary seem as if it is home-made which adds to the feeling of being on a more personal level. The shots of images, close ups and over-the-shoulder camera techniques of conversations with scholars, actors and New Yorkers, also help to highlight this aim and the feeling that the audience is learning of the Shakespearian world with Pacino.

The commentary of Pacino throughout the documentary also makes Richard III understandable to his audience by explaining the meaning of Shakespeares play and analyzing the play to an extent that they can relate to. He says; Did you know that Richard had one arm and a hunchback? This suggests that Pacino has only recently learnt this information and is informing his audience in a laid-back style to connect with them. His intent in creating the documentary is then made clear when Pacino says; We can use Shakespeare to communicate how we feel and think today. Similarly by using vox pops or the voice of the people,