At the very start of the first scene there is the year of the event to immediately provoke the reader subliminally imagining this period (1596) and also reiterates that the film is set in Venice with the white text across the screen. We can also see this film was clearly produced in Venice due to the gondolas on the flooded city of Venice. Further more text appears on screen, setting the scene in more detail. The prologue is in white on a black background. This is quite apparent; as the white is a stark contrast with the black which I think is a parallel to the feud between the Christian and Jewish people. The arbitrary signifier of the text is the hate the Venetian Christians have towards the Jewish people. The text is written in an almost handwriten style which appears to be a fairly old style of writing. The music played throughout this opening scene is peculiar, high pitched and eerie. To back up the text we are played a small snippet of the ghetto area (where the Jews reside) being locked and guarded by Christians.
Shortly after, we see a busy daytime scene with a loud shout “usurer” to a Jewish person, wearing a red hat signifying he was a Jew. He is then pushed and shoved simply for being Jewish. At this stage the scenes are building up the sympathy of the audience for the Jewish people. Even more so when a Jewish person is thrown off a bridge into the water below. Then a small elderly Jewish gentleman (later who we find out is Shylock) is spat at by a middle aged Venetian Man (Antonio). Then there is the vivid image of a Torah encircled in flames. These first 3 ½ minutes are very horrifying for the viewer, and really sets home the reality of life in the 15 hundreds. We learn some historical background to the play and also how the Jewish people are often moneylenders.
A brief list of the casting are published one by one across the screen with what looks like an ordinary night with a religious ceremony being carried out. The camera movement is generally slow in the next few minutes, like the music and the sound of the water gently moving. This is to create a tense and sombre atmosphere and one of suspense.
From here on, there is talk between Antonio and Bassanio, before building up to the main events of significance in the play. Bassanio a young handsome gentleman, is seeking to court Portia for this he needs money- 3000 ducats to be precise and he asks his friend Antonio for help. Intern Antonio borrows money off the usurer Shylock, abiding to the terms that if Shylock does receive his money back by the agreed date he is entitled to a pound of Antonio’s flesh.
To summarise the middle sections of the film we learn about how Antonio not being able to repay Shylock due to his ships not returning and also we see the increasing bond between Portia(Lynn Collins) and Bassanio(Joseph Fiennes)
It is important to notee that throughout the film there is virtually no use of special fx e.g big pyrotechnics would destroy all sense of reality and they are unlikely to fit in with the targeted period of time. A special fx they have capitalised on is using the sheer natural elegance of Venice in many camera shots such as, at the start the man being thrown off the Rialto Bridge.
Camera close ups are successfully used especially with the brilliant facial expressions of Antonio for example in the court scene where there is a look of fear and bewilderment. Scene changes are often slick, allowing the viewer to be engaged fully at all times.
Costumes throughout are certainly in context with the period, and makes us feel like we are in Venice in the 15 hundreds, with the lovely Lynn Colins looking stunning in long dresses of the time. However, her performance is not as good as her looks at times lacking passion and being some what lack lustre.
Al Pacinos performance is certainly convincing and he is one of the star characters of the film but at times his strong accent can be a distraction and a hindrance to the superb acting. I think sometimes the film tends to be rather prolonged and drawn out which loses the engagement of the viewers.
Even though the drama has passed, a chilling end is left with us.’ The main event is Shylock having to transform to Christianity and losing all his wealth and credibility. The ending shows the bond between Portia and Bassanio as Portia admits she was the doctor. A classical piece of music is played, with strong vocals, and this, which is played throughout these final minutes takes the place of words. Also due to the colours being of dark appearance, it shows that there is an air of injustice of what has happened to Shylock. I think what is said about Bassanio giving away the ring Portia gave him, is rather irrelevant and trivial. What is not said is more powerful, such as Shylock standing in the darkness outside a synagogue (not being allowed in) leaves us to sympathise with him and he comes out the martyr and moral hero of the film in my opinion.
To conclude, the Merchant of Venice is a brave choice to tackle the underlying anti-Semitic message. I think this would also appeal to people to people who do not necessarily read Shakespeare, showing that this film obviously is a success.