In 16th century Venice, when a merchant must default on a large loan from an abused Jewish moneylender for a friend with romantic ambitions, the bitterly vengeful creditor demands a gruesome... Read allIn 16th century Venice, when a merchant must default on a large loan from an abused Jewish moneylender for a friend with romantic ambitions, the bitterly vengeful creditor demands a gruesome payment instead.In 16th century Venice, when a merchant must default on a large loan from an abused Jewish moneylender for a friend with romantic ambitions, the bitterly vengeful creditor demands a gruesome payment instead.
- Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
- 2 wins & 7 nominations total
- Aragon
- (as Antonio Gil-Martinez)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe bare-breasted prostitutes were not put in the film to make it more risqué, but rather to add a note of historical authenticity. Venetian law at the time required all prostitutes to bare their breasts because the Christian authorities were concerned about rampant homosexuality in their city.
- GoofsIn Venice in 1598 a woman with no head-dress and her hair flowing loose would be taken for a whore, yet this is how Portia frequently appears.
- Quotes
Shylock: I am a Jew! Hath not a Jew eyes? hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions? Fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means, warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer, as a Christian is? If you prick us, do we not bleed? if you tickle us, do we not laugh? if you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge? If we are like you in the rest, we will resemble you in that. If a Jew wrong a Christian, what is his humility? Revenge. If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be - by Christian example? Why, revenge. The villany you teach me, I will execute, and it shall go hard - but I will better the instruction.
- Crazy creditsPROLOGUE: "Intolerance of the Jews was a fact of 16th century life even in Venice, the most powerful and liberal city state in Europe."
"By law the Jews were forced to live in the old walled foundry or 'Geto' area of the city. After sundown the gate was locked and guarded by Christians."
"In the daytime any man leaving the ghetto had to wear a red hat to mark him as a Jew."
"The Jews were forbidden to own property. Thus, they practiced usury, the practice of lending money at interest. This was against Christian law."
"The sophisticated Venetians would turn a blind eye to it but for the religious fanatics, who hated the Jews, it was another matter . . . "
- ConnectionsFeatured in 'Merchant of Venice': Shakespeare Through the Lens (2005)
- SoundtracksWith Wand'ring Steps
Composed by Jocelyn Pook, Lyrics by John Milton
Arranged by Jocelyn Pook
Performed by Baroque Strings Quartet Ensemble, featuring solo vocals by Andreas Scholl
Harp: Siobhan Armstrong
Psaltery: Harvey Brough
Lute: Elizabeth Kenny
Published by Shylock Ltd / EMI Music Publishing Ltd
© 2004 Decca Music Group Limited
(p) Jocelyn Pook Ltd. /2004 Decca Music Group Limited
I would have rated this film even higher, but it is based on Shakespeare's play, and Shakespeare did not handle this play's plot very well. He put a comic romantic scene near the end of what is otherwise a very tragic story. This "rings" scene near the end makes no sense to me. It does not fit in with the rest of the film, either in storyline or emotional tone. And because this scene comes near the end, it ruins what until this point had been a terrific cinematic experience.
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official sites
- Languages
- Also known as
- William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice
- Filming locations
- Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg(only Venice film set)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $30,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $3,765,585
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $69,868
- Jan 2, 2005
- Gross worldwide
- $21,560,182
- Runtime2 hours 11 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1