Romeo Juliet Techniques

723 Words2 Pages

Anusha Regmi
“O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?”
Franco zeffirelli and Baz Luhrmann both interpret William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet in their own unique styles. Although they use the same script written by Shakespeare, these two films are different in character, music and blocking. They both introduce the tragic tale of two star-crossed lovers that were kept apart by fate. When compared to Baz Luhrmann, Franco Zeffirelli’s comprehension of Act 2, scene 2 shows more accuracy to Shakespeare’s original work by placing the setting on a balcony, displaying the mood of the scene as more calm and peaceful and creating less emotion for Juliet.
Franco Zeffirelli’s interpretation of Act 2, Scene 2 is more systematic than that of Baz Luhrmann because the setting of this scene in the film took place on the balcony of the Capulet castle. Juliet is sitting on the edge of the balcony talking about her thoughts alone and Romeo is on the ground hidden amongst the trees listening to her. The balcony is difficult to climb, so Romeo climbs a nearby tree multiple times throughout the scene to get closer to Juliet. Where just like Shakespeare writes, “The orchard walls are high and hard to climb,” (II.ii.63). Romeo climbs up the tress and gets close to Juliet, they share an intimate moment without any distraction. On the other hand, Luhrmann interprets this scene differently. Romeo does not climb tress to meet Juliet, but he hides in the wall of the building. He climbs the balcony wall quickly using a ladder placed against the balcony wall by the Capulet poolside. Juliet walks out...

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...n’d in night / so stumblest on my counsel?”(II.ii.52-53). In opposition to, in the Luhrmann version, Juliet shows much more emotion. Juliet is walking out from an elevator when she is speaking about her thoughts. Although Romeo also reveals himself after Juliet calls on him to lose his name, Juliet gets scared and screams, which makes them to fall into the pool. By recording the scene this way, Luhrmann is disregarding the original work of Shakespeare but Zeffirelli follows Shakespeare’s actual work.
In conclusion, Franco zeffirelli’s version of Romeo and Juliet is better than Baz Luhrmann’s version of Romeo and Juliet because it follows Shakespeare’s original work which best represents Shakespeare’s intentions. Zeffirelli’s version is also more traditional and since it was staged in 1960’s, the act is showing most of the emotion rather than a music.

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