New Showbiz

You are here:
National Theatre Live: Julius Caesar

National Theatre Live: Julius Caesar

2018

Director

Tony Grech-Smith

Runtime

138 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

Caesar returns in triumph to Rome and the people pour out of their homes to celebrate. Alarmed by the autocrat’s popularity, the educated élite conspire to bring him down. After his assassination, civil war erupts on the streets of the capital. Nicholas Hytner’s production will thrust the audience into the street party that greets Caesar’s return, the congress that witnesses his murder, the rally that assembles for his funeral and the chaos that explodes in its wake.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

4.8/10

Fair

Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Minimal

The production adheres to traditional gender and orientation frameworks found in the original text. There is no evidence of non-cisnormative identities or same-sex intimacy.

Gender Representation

Limited

The narrative centers on male-dominated political and military hierarchies. Female characters like Calpurnia are relegated to secondary, domestic, or omen-based roles within the patriarchal Roman structure.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Fair

The production leans toward a modern, cosmopolitan interpretation of Rome. This approach disrupts expectations of a monolithic white cast, though race is not a primary narrative driver.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Good

The work excels in exploring moral relativism and the breakdown of institutional stability. It uses the assassination of a leader to critique how centralized power is manufactured and dismantled.

Disability Representation

Minimal

There is no significant evidence regarding the portrayal of visible or invisible disabilities in this production.

Strengths

  • The production offers a sophisticated exploration of moral relativism and situational ethics.
  • A cosmopolitan interpretation of Rome disrupts the expectation of a monolithic, Anglo-centric cast.
  • The narrative provides a compelling critique of how centralized power and institutional stability can be dismantled.

Areas for Improvement

  • The narrative is heavily centered on male-dominated hierarchies, limiting female agency.
  • There is a lack of representation regarding non-cisnormative gender identities or LGBTQ+ intimacy.
  • The production does not actively subvert traditional patriarchal structures or include disability representation.

AI Analysis

This staging of Shakespeare’s tragedy focuses on the friction between individual morality and systemic power. It functions primarily as a classical political drama centered on the collapse of the Roman Republic. The production lacks breakthroughs in gender and LGBTQ+ representation, remaining tied to the heteronormative and patriarchal structures of the source material. However, it achieves a moderate score through its sophisticated interrogation of political institutions. By prioritizing the deconstruction of traditional power structures and moral relativism, the work offers a progressive lens on how authority fails, even while maintaining traditional character roles.

How are these scores produced? →

Similar Movies

Rate this Movie

No rating selected
Use arrow keys to select a rating from 1 to 5 stars
Optional text review, maximum 2000 characters
Tip: Wrap spoilers with ||double pipes|| to hide them
0/2000 characters
You must be signed in to submit a rating

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!

Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.