"Merchant 36"

The ground-breaking production of Shakespeare’s classic The Merchant of Venice returns to Manchester

Join Tracy-Ann Oberman and Lord Mann as they discuss the importance of reclaiming history against the backdrop of the new production of The Merchant of Venice 1936.

In the melting pot of Venice, trade is God. With its ships plying the globe, the city opens its arms to all, as long as they come prepared to do business and there is profit to be made. With the gold flowing all is well, but when a contract between Bassanio and Shylock is broken, simmering racial tensions boil over. A wronged father, and despised outsider, Shylock looks to exact the ultimate price for a deal sealed in blood. Polly Findlay (Arden of Faversham 2014) directs Shakespeare's uncompromising tragedy.

A hapless merchant, lost in a dark forest, seeks refuge in the castle of a hideous monster who threatens to kill him unless one of his three daughters will agree to take his place. But when Beauty appears, the Beast falls madly in love with her. Hauntingly portrayed by Jean Marais, the Beast is all repressed lust and melancholy refinement, while Beauty (Josette Day) is no mere damsel in distress, overcoming her fears to explore a glittering, shadowy realm which abounds in supernatural terrors and delights. Might she secretly relish this adventure which will help unlock her deepest desires?

Based on a short story by Karen Blixen, The Immortal Story is set in the Portuguese colony of Macao in the 19th century and concerns a wealthy merchant with skeletons in his closet. Welles’ second-to-last completed feature, the film boasts sumptuous cinematography by Willy Kurant, who would go on to work with Godard and music by Eric Satie. Originally released as part of a double bill with Buñuel’s Simon of the Desert, like much of Welles’ work it polarised the critics.

Acclaimed French filmmaker Claire Denis (White Material, Beau Travail) returns with arguably her most mysterious work since 2004’s L’intrus. A man commits suicide, leaving his affairs in chaos and wife in a state of distress. She contacts her brother (Vincent Lindon), who gives up his job as a merchant sea captain to investigate what happened. But, the truth may be something that no one ever wants revealed.

An epic drama set in 16th century France against a backdrop of feudalism in decline, Age of Uprising: The Legend of Michael Kohlhaas stars Mads Mikkelsen (A Royal Affair, Valhalla Rising, Hannibal) as a well-to-do horse merchant who resorts to fanatical and violent extremes to obtain justice after a nobleman openly and illegally humiliates him by stealing two of his horses. Adapted from Heinrich von Kleist's novella, a classic of German Romanticism, Age of Uprising: The Legend of Michael Kohlhaas was previously adapted for film in 1969 by Volker Schlöndorff and served as the inspiration for E.L. Doctorow's Ragtime.

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