Comparing the Openings of the Film Versions of Romeo and Juliet by Franco Zeffirelli and Baz Luhrmann
Both openings of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ by Franco Zeffirelli and Baz
Luhrmann show similarities and contrasts. Although both versions are
faithful to the text as the words spoken by the voiceover in the
Prologue are the same, the methods of presentation are clearly
different. Zeffirelli places the film in the 17th century and takes a
more traditional approach. By using a white middle aged male for the
voiceover, Zeffirelli is just giving the audience exactly what they
expect, the first opportunity to see Romeo and Juliet on the screen is
when as the film was made in 1968. This…
Luhrmann’s opening is frantic and exciting so appeals to a younger
audience as well. He zooms in on the new reporter so that the audience
recognises that she is the centre of attention, also the gradual
zooming gives the feeling that they are getting engulfed by the story.
The use of the young, black, American news reporter proves that the
two films are not contemporary as Luhrmann’s is blatantly the most
modern. Zeffirelli, however, uses a white, English male because this
would have been normal to the audience in 1968, when it was made.
Zeffirelli uses the river as a visual and physical separation for the
two families, just as the figure of Jesus is used in Luhrmann’s. These
give the impression that their rivalry is so great, that nothing can
stop them from battling with each other. Water is a purifying source
and is a form of the Holy Spirit, so symbolising religion and also
suggesting that not even the power of God could stop the battle.
Figuratively, I thin...
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...y sending the audience a subliminal message about that
characters personality. Behind the parents of each family, the colours
are dull, this suggests that the battle has taken its toll on the
parents and they are sick of it. Behind Mercutio and Paris, the
colours are bright; this suggests that they could be comical
characters. The bright colours also suggest energy and immaturity and
could be described as loose cannons. The characters are presented with
a short clip from somewhere later in the film, therefore, giving us an
incite into how they are affected by Romeo and Juliet.
In the introduction, the diegetic sound of the helicopter and the non
diegetic sound of the tragic opera ‘Carmina Burrana’ create a
documentary feeling as if it could be live on national television. The
handheld camera also adds to this affect.