Basil - Cleopatra Review

Cleopatra, with its 4 hour runtime, story of political intrigue, and intricate set and costume design, is daunting, to say the least. Its story spans years and continents. It languishes in long, dialogue-heavy scenes and establishing shots; it is extravagant in every sense of the word. Many aspects of the movie, too, are meant to give it a sense of historical accuracy: a sense which it conveys very well (but does not actually completely adhere to). The acting—in particular, the transatlantic accent adopted by the majority of the cast—is meant to make the actors sound older. The accent was most commonly used from approximately 1910-1940, which, to the audiences of the ‘60s, would have sounded old and sophisticated, just as Cleopatra herself is supposed to be perceived as. In addition, the use of transitions from the movie to a still Romanesque painting creates a connotation of accurate history. These aspects of the movie are contrasted against the extravagant, unrealistic costumes and costume changes, as well as the expansive sets. These function to show just how wealthy and powerful the central characters (Cleopatra, Caesar, and Mark Anthony) are. The extravagance is unrealistic both to modern audiences and to those actually living in antiquity; but for Cleopatra, it is her every day.  

This scene, which depicts Cleopatra and Caesar's first meeting (after she has been rolled out of the rug used to smuggle herself in), establishes Cleopatra’s character at the start of the movie as well as the dynamic between the two characters. Primarily, that Cleopatra is in control. Cleopatra's clothing, hairstyle and makeup are central aspects (or perhaps indicators) of her character, and this scene is no exception. She wears something tight and red, which shows off her waist and chest; this gives her a sense of implied sexual availability. Red, also, gives the impression of power; it gives the impression of violence and destruction. 

In terms of their dynamic, the scene where Cleopatra and Caesar meet is indicative of the power struggle taking place between the two, both then and throughout the movie. She chooses when and where to approach Caesar. She knows exactly how to smuggle herself into his room, and has the loyalty of her servant who is willing to do something dangerous for her. The conversation is largely started and continued by her. In the screencap, she stands physically above Caesar, looking down upon him as he speaks. Their dynamic is characterized by power struggle. However, it is also characterized by connection and similarity. The color red is again used to illustrate their budding relationship; where Cleopatra wears all red, Caesar’s red undershirt mirrors his desire for her as well as his desire for power. Although he looks up at her, he mockingly asks her for permission before he sits down at all, which shows that he still desires that control, the power to choose whether to sit and look up.