<P> Prospero 's Books is a 1991 British avant - garde film adaptation of William Shakespeare 's The Tempest , written and directed by Peter Greenaway . John Gielgud plays Prospero , the protagonist who provides the off - screen narration and the voices to the other story characters . Stylistically , Prospero 's Books is narratively and cinematically innovative in its techniques , combining mime , dance , opera , and animation . Edited in Japan , the film makes extensive use of digital image manipulation ( using Hi - Vision video inserts and the Paintbox system ) , often overlaying multiple moving and still pictures with animations . Michael Nyman composed the musical score and Karine Saporta choreographed the dance . The film is also notable for its extensive use of nudity , reminiscent of Renaissance paintings of mythological characters . The nude actors and extras represent a cross-section of male and female humanity . </P>
<P> Prospero 's Books is a 1991 British avant - garde film adaptation of William Shakespeare 's The Tempest , written and directed by Peter Greenaway . John Gielgud plays Prospero , the protagonist who provides the off - screen narration and the voices to the other story characters . Stylistically , Prospero 's Books is narratively and cinematically innovative in its techniques , combining mime , dance , opera , and animation . Edited in Japan , the film makes extensive use of digital image manipulation ( using Hi - Vision video inserts and the Paintbox system ) , often overlaying multiple moving and still pictures with animations . Michael Nyman composed the musical score and Karine Saporta choreographed the dance . The film is also notable for its extensive use of nudity , reminiscent of Renaissance paintings of mythological characters . The nude actors and extras represent a cross-section of male and female humanity . </P>
actor who starred as title character in prosperos books
actor who starred as title character in prosperos books
John Gielgud
John Gielgud