1. Macbeth Things to Know Before You Watch the Film

2. Literary Terms comic relief – the following of a serious scene with a lighter, mildly humorous one comic relief – the following of a serious scene with a lighter, mildly humorous one tragic hero – the main character who comes to an unhappy or miserable end tragic hero – the main character who comes to an unhappy or miserable end tragic flaw – a fatal error in judgment or weakness of character, that leads directly to his or her downfall tragic flaw – a fatal error in judgment or weakness of character, that leads directly to his or her downfall catastrophe – tragic resolution catastrophe – tragic resolution soliloquy – a speech a character makes alone on the stage, to reveal his or her thoughts to the audience soliloquy – a speech a character makes alone on the stage, to reveal his or her thoughts to the audience

3. Literary Terms Continued… aside – a remark a character makes that others on the stage aren’t supposed to hear aside – a remark a character makes that others on the stage aren’t supposed to hear irony – a contrast between appearance or expectation and reality irony – a contrast between appearance or expectation and reality dramatic irony – what appears to be true to a character is seen to be false to the audience dramatic irony – what appears to be true to a character is seen to be false to the audience theme – central idea; perception about life or human nature theme – central idea; perception about life or human nature motif – a recurring word, phrase, object, image, idea, or action in a work of literature. motif – a recurring word, phrase, object, image, idea, or action in a work of literature.

4. Themes ambition ambition impulses and desires impulses and desires marriage marriage fate and efforts to control it fate and efforts to control it appearance vs. reality appearance vs. reality loyalty loyalty the supernatural the supernatural reason and mental stability reason and mental stability

5. Roman Polanski Roman Polanski wrote the screenplay and directed this version of Macbeth. Roman Polanski wrote the screenplay and directed this version of Macbeth. The executive producer was Hugh Hefner of Playboy. The executive producer was Hugh Hefner of Playboy.

6. Roman Polanski Born in Paris on August 18, 1933 Born in Paris on August 18, 1933 At age 3, moved to Krakow, Poland, his father’s native land At age 3, moved to Krakow, Poland, his father’s native land In 1941, his parents were imprisoned in Nazi concentration camps and his mother eventually died in Auschwitz. In 1941, his parents were imprisoned in Nazi concentration camps and his mother eventually died in Auschwitz.

7. Roman Polanski In 1968, he moved to Hollywood, making his American debut with the horror flick, Rosemary’s Baby In 1968, he moved to Hollywood, making his American debut with the horror flick, Rosemary’s Baby In 1969, his 8-month pregnant wife was brutally murdered by members of the Charles Manson cult. In 1969, his 8-month pregnant wife was brutally murdered by members of the Charles Manson cult.

8. A Dark Life The extreme violence Polanski experienced was reflected in his films, which tended to focus on darker themes of alienation and evil The extreme violence Polanski experienced was reflected in his films, which tended to focus on darker themes of alienation and evil (Photo of Charles Manson in later years)

9. My Man Jack In 1977, 43-year-old Polanski was indicted for having sex with a 13-year-old girl In 1977, 43-year-old Polanski was indicted for having sex with a 13-year-old girl This happened at a magazine shoot in the home of Mrs. Lewis’ favorite actor, Jack Nicholson, who wasn’t there at the time. This happened at a magazine shoot in the home of Mrs. Lewis’ favorite actor, Jack Nicholson, who wasn’t there at the time. Polanski allegedly gave the young girl Quaaludes and champagne before the “incident” Polanski allegedly gave the young girl Quaaludes and champagne before the “incident”

10. Polanski Scandal Polanski pleaded guilty to one charge of unlawful sexual intercourse and underwent psychiatric evaluation at a state prison in California. Polanski pleaded guilty to one charge of unlawful sexual intercourse and underwent psychiatric evaluation at a state prison in California. Although criminal charges were still pending, Polanski fled the US after his discharge and was “wanted” up until 2009. Although criminal charges were still pending, Polanski fled the US after his discharge and was “wanted” up until 2009. In September of 2009, Polanski was arrested while in Switzerland at the request of U.S. authorities and was kept under house arrest at his home while awaiting decision of appeals fighting extradition to the U.S. In September of 2009, Polanski was arrested while in Switzerland at the request of U.S. authorities and was kept under house arrest at his home while awaiting decision of appeals fighting extradition to the U.S. In July of 2010, however, the Swiss rejected the U.S. request and instead declared him a "free man" and released him from custody, although all six of the original charges still remain pending in the U.S. In July of 2010, however, the Swiss rejected the U.S. request and instead declared him a "free man" and released him from custody, although all six of the original charges still remain pending in the U.S.

11. The Comeback Polanski staged a comeback in 2002 with the Holocaust drama, The Pianist Polanski staged a comeback in 2002 with the Holocaust drama, The Pianist He won a Best Director Oscar for the film, but was not allowed to attend the award ceremony due to criminal indictment He won a Best Director Oscar for the film, but was not allowed to attend the award ceremony due to criminal indictment

12. Polanski’s Latest Film The Ghost Writer, a thriller loosely based on an episode in the life of former British prime minister Tony Blair, swept the European Film Awards in 2010, winning six awards, including best movie, director, actor and screenplay. The Ghost Writer, a thriller loosely based on an episode in the life of former British prime minister Tony Blair, swept the European Film Awards in 2010, winning six awards, including best movie, director, actor and screenplay. The cast includes Ewan McGregor and Pierce Brosnan. The cast includes Ewan McGregor and Pierce Brosnan.