Comparing the Opening Scene of the Franco Zeffirelli and Baz Luhrmann Film Versions of Romeo and Juliet

Comparing the Opening Scene of the Franco Zeffirelli and Baz Luhrmann Film Versions of Romeo and Juliet

Both directors present their interpretation of the epic tale of love,

reflecting their attitudes towards play and playwright. Luhrmann

tackled the task of bringing the play up to date in 1997 and getting

young people interested. Zeffirelli’s love for Shakespeare’s works

shines through and so he has done little tampering. In fact Zeffirelli

gives the film an air of nobility – like the youths’ death was sad,

but a fitting end. Luhrmann conveys absolute disgust with the violence

and needless death.

Zeffirelli’s film is set in Italy imitating Shakespeare’s medieval

Verona effectively in the landscape, traditional piazzas and climate,

noticeable in the fight when dust obscures the action. Zeffirelli

takes advantage of this authenticity; showing it off, throughout the

prologue, using shots of the misty city, which sharply focus just

before the scene relocates to the piazza. Zeffirelli’s setting allows

artefacts used to be realistic. This is shown in the bell tower,

showing the spread of violence and contributing to the cacophony, and

in the dramatic arrival of the Prince coming to the rescue.

The costumes conform to the setting, conveying a tribal theme with

contrasting colours – yellow/red versus dark greys. The characters are

defined largely by speech and acting, Benvolio acts sheepish when

questioned by Tybalt and the latter is aggressive; satisfied when he

draws blood. This play has many opposite characters, for example

Benvolio, the peacemaker and Tybalt the warmonger. We are also given

the opposites of Romeo and his parents who ...

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... with opportunities for humour in the slight

parody of this first scene and with a Montague being hit over the head

with a handbag. Zeffirelli does not give these opportunities for

humour but relies on the witty banter of the original Shakespearian

words.

I believe the Luhrmann is the better film as his aim was much more

challenging and he made people care about this classic, plus he adds

in his own little quirks of wit making the film his own. Zeffirelli

merely had to keep the play as it was and ask the actors to act

whereas Luhrmann’s task as a director was more ambitious and people

are foregoing Zeffirelli’s version in favour of the Luhrmann. Mostly I

prefer Luhrmann’s as he doesn’t soften the events, as if he takes pity

on characters who cannot escape their plot and so is determined to do

their story justice.