Swan Song

in 1992, Hollywood had certainly noticed Kenneth Branagh as he frequently achieved both critical and financial success in front of and behind the camera. America discovered what the United Kingdom had known for many years - before excelling in filmmaking, Branagh was a top stage actor and director!

It would come as no surprise that the guy who found success bringing Shakespeare plays to modern audiences, honors and acknowledges his elders in a way that American filmmaker egos don't. This short film, SWAN SONG, is this on display. Adapted from an Anton Chekhov one-act play, and starring the late John Gielgud as an elderly actor at the sunset of his career.

The whole piece is done in one location with only one additional actor, Branagh favorite Richard Biers as a theater employee who supports and understands the actors concerns.

At just over 20 minutes, the focus is certainly on Gielgud. On the surface level, there is very little that suggests Branagh behind the camera. Looking a little deeper, the love of language and high drama, with the telling honoring a theatrical legend - Branagh is written all over it.

As of this writing, the film is very difficult to watch aside from a couple horrible VHS ripped youtube videos.