FilmJuiceCreative England, BBC Films and BFI present in association with Oldgarth Media
A Sixty Six Pictures & iFeatures Production
DIRECTED BY WILLIAM OLDROYD
WRITTEN BY ALICE BIRCH
PRODUCED BY FODHLA CRONIN O’REILLY
FLORENCE PUGH, COSMO JARVIS
PAUL HILTON, NAOMI ACKIE & CHRISTOPHER FAIRBANK
Based on the Nineteenth Century Novella LADY MACBETH OF MTSENSK DISTRICT
BY Nikolai Leskov
Rural England, 1865. Katherine (Florence Pugh) is stifled by her loveless marriage to a bitter man twice her age, and his cold, unforgiving family. When she embarks on a passionate affair with a young worker on her husband’s estate, a force is unleashed inside her so powerful that she will stop at nothing to get what she wants.
The film is loosely based on a nineteenth century novella called Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District by Nikolai Leskov and was later adapted as an Opera. Lady Macbeth is a tragic portrait of a beautiful, determined and merciless young woman seizing her independence in a world dominated by men.
Lady Macbeth is the debut feature film from theatre director William Oldroyd.
William’s first short film, Christ’s Dog was written by Howard Barker and nominated for Best Short Film at the Hamburg International Independent Film Festival. His second short film, Best, written by Adam Brace, won the Sundance London Short Film competition and subsequently screened at Sundance, Park City.
Florence Pugh (The Falling and Screen Star of Tomorrow) takes the lead in the 19th Century period drama. Former Screen Star of Tomorrow Cosmo Jarvis (Spooks: The Greater Good) plays opposite Pugh while supporting cast include Paul Hilton (Wuthering Heights), newcomer Naomi Ackie and Christopher Fairbank (Guardians of the Galaxy).
The script was written by up and coming playwright Alice Birch, winner of the 2014 George Devine Award for Most Promising Playwright. Lady Macbeth is the first feature produced by Fodhla Cronin O’Reilly of Sixty Six Pictures. Cronin O’Reilly earned an Oscar nomination in 2013 for her short Head Over Heels.
AWARDS
SCREEN STARS OF TOMORROW – FODHLA CRONIN O’REILLY
SCREEN STARS OF TOMORROW – FLORENCE PUGH
ZURICH 2016 – WINNER CRITICS’ CHOICE AWARD
SAN SEBASTIAN 2016 – WINNER FIPRESCI AWARD
BFI LONDON FILM FESTIVAL – NOMINATED FIRST FEATURE COMPETITION
EVENING STANDARD BRITISH FILM AWARDS THE MALONE SOULIERS AWARD – WINNER BREAKTHROUGH OF THE YEAR – FLORENCE PUGH
