The audience is forced to revel in Gibson’s facial expressions and follow him closely throughout the scene. The scene is mostly close ups but it is clearly shown that Hamlet is pacing around the tomb in his self-contemplation.

Zeffirelli in his tomb with low lighting had no problem taking multiple shots and editing them together. One could also consider the mirror as an illusion to the veil of death as Hamlet speaks of the travel no one returns from (LL80-81). Or perhaps seen as foreshadowing he is in fact pointing the knife at those who are standing behind it. At one point he even draws a knife and points it towards himself in the mirror. Having the camera look over his shoulder and slowly zooming in on the reflection as he walks closer to the mirror and his hidden listeners.

The only editing coming at the beginning before any words are spoken to establish that Polonius and Claudius are present for the speech. Branagh uses the mirrors to also deliver the soliloquy in one continuous shot.

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