The 1996 Film
Who directed the 1996 film version of Twelfth Night?
Trevor Nunn
What happens to Viola and Sebastian at the very beginning of the film?
Their ship sinks in a storm
At the beginning, who does Duke Orsino believe he loves?
Olivia
What is the central theme involving Viola’s male disguise?
Disguise (or appearance vs reality)
What important visual scene does the film add at the beginning?
The shipwreck
In what historical period did Trevor Nunn set his film?
In the late Victorian era (1890s)
What cruel prank is played on Malvolio?
He receives a forged love letter from “Olivia”
Who falls in love with Cesario (Viola in disguise)?
Countess Olivia
Why does Nunn’s Victorian setting make Viola’s gender disguise feel more dangerous?
Because of strict Victorian moral rules and gender expectations
How does the film’s opening differ from the play’s opening?
The film starts with the shipwreck and Viola, while the play starts with Orsino
What major opening scene does the film add that is not in Shakespeare’s play?
The shipwreck (separation of Viola and Sebastian)
In which scene is Malvolio locked in a dark room?
The “dark room” / prison scene
Why does Orsino start to feel attracted to Cesario?
Cesario (Viola) is smart, gentle and understands his feelings
What theme is shown through the sudden and irrational loves?
The irrationality (or madness) of love
What extra role does Feste have in the film?
He acts as the narrator / framing voice of the story
What symbolic injury does Duke Orsino have in the film?
An injured (broken) arm
What happens when Sebastian arrives in Illyria?
He is mistaken for Cesario and marries Olivia
At the end, who does Orsino finally realize he loves?
Viola (not Cesario)
What darker aspect of the comedy is highlighted in Malvolio’s “dark room” scene?
Madness / cruelty / midsummer madness
In which scene does the film use strong contrasts of light and darkness?
Malvolio’s prison / dark room scene
Why does Trevor Nunn make Feste the narrator of the story?
To emphasize the theme of appearance vs reality
What visual detail does Nunn add during the shipwreck to show the twins’ bond?
They are shown performing together in identical costumes
What does the film teach about love through the final pairings?
Love is irrational and can happen regardless of gender or social rules
How does Feste as narrator deepen the main theme of the film?
It reinforces appearance vs reality (Feste sees through every disguise)
What added detail about the twins before the wreck makes Viola’s disguise more believable?
They are shown performing together in identical costumes