Profession of Love and a Request

    Kenneth Branagh's 1993 film adaptation of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing retains most of the original dialogue as written by the playwright while using costuming and prop placement to enhance the actors' performances. During the scene in the movie that contains the ending of Act 4, Scene 1, the entire set is muted Earth tones that are not visually interesting. The same is true of the actors' costumes. Emma Thompson, who plays Beatrice, and Kenneth Branagh, who plays Benedick, are both wearing primarily white costumes with minimal color accents. Simplicity in both the costuming and set directs attention to the actors and allows dialogue and movement to be the focal point

Branagh 1993 performance of Benedick and Beatrice love confession 

    In this scene, the glamor of the characters' appearance and the household's wealth are not the focal point. This is an intimate, vulnerable confession between two people. Because the set is small and inside a religious space, it intensifies the intimacy of the love confession that Beatrice and Benedick share. 

    In this scene, Beatrice ventures into the church to seek comfort after the events of Hero's disastrous wedding to Claudio. When Benedict finds her to offer comfort, they confess their true feelings for one another. Benedick, in his declaration, offers, "Come, bid me do anything for thee" (4. 1. 302). Understanding her place in society as a woman, she pleads for him to seek retribution for Hero's ruined reputation. His denial of her request visibly passes over her face; her eyes drop, and she moves out of his space before attempting to leave the church entirely. 

Branagh 1993 Beatrice's reaction to "kill Claudio" 

    Her heartbreak and frustration are visible in the way she moves to push him away from her. When she realizes she cannot move further, she turns back to the altar before speaking again. In her rage, she pushes over furniture inside the church. Benedick watches her with his back facing the audience, giving his full attention to the woman he loves even if he cannot comply with her request to kill his closest friend.

Works Cited

Shakespeare, William. Much Ado About Nothing. Edited by Paul Werstine. Folger Shakespeare Library Edition. January 2004.

Much Ado About Nothing. Directed by Kenneth Branagh. The Samuel Goldwyn Company. 1993.