TITUS
Year: 1999
USA: Fox Searchlight Pictures
UK: Buena Vista International UK
Cast: Anthony Hopkins, Jessica Lange, Alan Cumming, Colm Feore, James Frain, Laura Fraser, Harry J. Lennix, Angus MacFadyen, Matthew Rhys, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Kenny Doughty, Osheen Jones, Blake Ritson, Colin Wells, Geraldine McEwan, Constantine Gregory, Raz Degan
Director: Julie Taymor
Country: USA
USA & UK: 162 mins
USA Rated: R for strong violent and sexual images
UK Certificate: 18 for infrequent strong sex and frequent moderately strong violence and horror
USA Release Date: 11 February 2000
USA Release Date: 25 December 1999 (Limited Release - Los Angeles and New York)
UK Release Date: 1 September 2000
Synopsis
Titus Andronicus, the great Roman general, returns home victorious from a long war with the northern Goths during which all but his four remaining sons have died. Lucius, the eldest son, reminds Titus that part of the victory ritual is the human sacrifice of an enemy prisoner. Titus chooses the eldest son of Tamora, the Queen of the Goths, who has been brought back to Rome as a captive with her three sons and the Moor, Aaron. Tamora and her two remaining sons, Chrion and Demetrius, vow revenge.
To the dismay of his family and friends, Titus faithfully supports the new emperor, the spoiled and corrupt Saturninus, who surprises everyone by taking the seductive and alluring Tamora for his wife. Now she is in a position of power!
During a hunt in the forest, Aaron, the Moor, plots with Tamora and her sons, Chiron and Demetrius, to kill Bassianus, the emperor?s brother and the husband of Titus?s only daughter, Lavinia, who is abducted. Aaron frames two of Titus?s sons for Bassianus?s murder and the Emperor condemns them to be executed and banishes Titus?s eldest son, Lucius, from Rome. Then Titus' brother, Marcus, brings him Lavinia who has been raped and mutilated so that she cannot reveal her assailants.
Aaron gives Titus a message that if he cuts off his own hand and sends it to the emperor, he will have his condemned sons back. Titus lets Aaron cut off his hand, but realises he was cruelly deceived when he receives in return his sons? severed heads. Vowing revenge, Titus sends his only remaining son, the exiled Lucius, to the Goths to raise an army against the Roman emperor. Lavinia finds a way to write the names of Chiron and Demetrius in the sand adding to his vengeance.
Finally Tamora instigates her downfall when she orders, Aaron (her secret lover), to kill their love child but he escapes from Rome only to be captured by Lucius and the Goths. In an effort to save his son, Aaron confesses all to Lucius. The army advances on Rome.
Titus in Rome, acting as if he is mad, captures Tamora's two sons, and dressed in disguise as a cook at a feast serves Tamora his specially baked pies?