Norman Bowman

This film of Michael Buffong's epic stage production of King Lear starring Don Warrington was shot during a performance at The Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester and directed for the screen by Bridget Caldwell. King Lear is a brutal portrait of a man unravelling - pitted against his daughters, against nature and against the universe. In an ancient Britain, bound by loyalty to the clan and the power of the sword, Lear pledges to give up his crown. As he divides the kingdom between his daughters, family ties disintegrate, order disappears, the land slides into chaos and Lear descends into madness. This is a current,vital and politically relevant interpretation of Shakespeare's most tragic play.