SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE CAPTURES THE SPIRIT OF THE RENAISSANCE

Wonderfully romantic, Shakespeare in Love is a film that captures the spirit of the English Renaissance - the flowering of English culture during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

The story concerns a fictional Will Shakespeare who has lost his muse. In spite of the efforts of theatre owner Henslowe and financier Fennyman Will cannot regain it until he falls in love with beautiful heiress Viola De Lessops. Unfortunately Viola has been ordered by the Queen and her family to marry cold and dispassionate Lord Wessex who is only interested in her money and whether she will provide him with sons.

Viola hates Lord Wessex and yearns to be an actress in an age when women are not allowed on the stage. Impressed by the beauty of Shakespeare's poetry and in love with Will she dresses as a man and wins the part of Romeo in his new play. Unfortunately she will learn that Will's character does not match his words.

There is hardly a flaw in this film. Although crude at times (and life in Elizabethan England was crude) the clever and witty script is also very moving and scenes from Romeo and Juliet are successfully incorporated into the film. Gywnneth Paltrow, looking exquisite in her Elizabethan costumes, deserved the Oscar for her superb performance as Viola. Joseph Fiennes is almost as good as Will.

The story moves at a fast pace but is very moving. The lavish settings and music and, excellent photography provide the perfect backdrop for the bittersweet love story between Viola and Will.

Geoffrey Rush looks amusing enough but his weak comic lines seem to distract from the plot. Judi Dench is suitably regal and commanding as the Queen but I can't help wondering why it was necessary to make her look quite so awful? These are, however, minor points.

The question asked in this film is whether a play can show the very nature and truth of love. The Queen states that she has not seen one that does. Viola argues passionately that a play can show this as she has learnt from reading Shakespeare.

This film goes a long way towards proving that Viola is right.

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