"Lady McBeth"- She's No Ordinary Lady & This is an Extraordinary Film-A Must See Import from the UK

Dir. William Oldroyd (b UK) debut film, "Lady McBeth" is an astonishing achievement.  Set in the rural English countryside mid-late 19th C the film is adapted from the novel "Lady McBeth of Mtsensk written, surprisingly by a Russian author, Nikolai Leskov (b 1831-1895.)  Leskov's novel was converted into an opera by 20th C Russian composer Shostakovich.   Everything about this extraordinary social satire & suspense thriller is titilating, intense and shocking.  The movie is much more intense than "Madame Bovary" & "Lady Chatterly's Lover" combined.  Katherine is sold into  marriage "for a cow & piece of land not worthy for it to graze on."  Loveless is too tame a term for her marriage into a household where both husband & father-in-law are boorish & cruel and born of aristocracy.  Katherine (a star making performance by British actress Florence Pugh) is no wilting flower.  Her irreverence & strength overshadow an even more sinister, sex-driven sociopath.  Katherine makes her preferences for the outdoors known.  Forced attempts to restrain her are futile.  And, woe begotten to those who refute her lest it prove fatal.  Her illicit paramour, Sebastian (Cosmo Jarvis, born to an Armenian/American mother) succumbs to Katherine's wiles surpassing his own crude, animalistic nature.  Jarvis is an actor, singer/song writer & the sole American amongst a regal cast of British actors.  His swarthy sex appeal & swagger serve him well as long as he serves Katherine's plans.  The movie takes treacherous & unexpected twists that keep the audience on edge.  The household servant, Anna (British actress Naomi Ackie "Dr. Who" makes an unforgettable film debut.)  Anna is a brutalized servant & innocent victim in vindictive vendettas that befall her.  She is dehumanized and rendered utterly powerless to defend herself.  Australian cinematographer, Ari Wagner ("Ruin") does a magnificent job capturing the haunting beauty & chilling atmosphere.  This is a suspenseful & stunning film with a superb cast & brilliantly directed.  But what's done is not done for the infirm of purpose or thin skinned.