Analyse Baz Luhrmann's Interpretation of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' Particularly focusing on Act 1 Scene 5.
Analyse Baz Luhrmann's Interpretation of
Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet'
Particularly focusing on Act1 Scene5
Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' was first performed on stage at the Globe Theatre, South London, in 1597. More recently the modern film interpretations, by Franco Zeffirelli in 1968, and Baz Luhrmann in 1997, have been viewed by thousands. 'Romeo and Juliet' is truly one of the greatest tales of all time, for it can still entertain an audience of all ages and stun them into silence, with its clever script and gripping plot.
Admittedly the romantic tragedy of 'two star crossed lovers' has been used to such an extent in a variety of stories such as West Side Story, that it is now considered a cliché. Yet despite this, the story of 'Romeo and Juliet' is still incredibly popular and easily grips a modern audiences. Set in the 13th century, Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' is a story of two lovers, who, because of the hatred between their families, which goes back generations, can never be together. Their 'only love sprung from their only hate' leads to the tragic deaths of the two teenagers, and, ironically, the reconciliation of their families, the Montagues, and the Capulets.
When Shakespeare wrote this play, it was to be performed on an 'Apron stage', and by the nature of such an Elizabethan stage, this caused several problems . Not only were the curtains unable to be closed at the end of a scene or act, but since it was essentially an open-air stage, it could not be hidden in darkness. This meant that anything such as time or setting had to be conveyed to the audience through the words in script.
There was also the problem that at the time it was against the law for women to act on stage. So this meant gender was something else that had to be conveyed through the script, although, this was not as important as other aspects, because male actors were able to dress as women for the purpose of the stage performance. However, cross-dressing in any other circumstances was considered illegal, and so Shakespeare made the most of it in his plays, which resulted in some of them being quite shocking, yet highly amusing to an Elizabethan audience.
There have been two film interpretations of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', both of which have used the original script, have been highly successful, and critically acclaimed, and yet the two films could not be more different.
The earliest of the two films was directed by Franco Zeffirelli, it was made in a traditional style, with 13th century costume, and setting. The film also follows the original script very closely.. The second interpretation directed by Baz Luhrmann, and could not be more different to the original film. Filmed in Mexico City, it is in a modern setting, with ...
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There have been two film interpretations of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', both of which have used the original script, have been highly successful, and critically acclaimed, and yet the two films could not be more different.
The earliest of the two films was directed by Franco Zeffirelli, it was made in a traditional style, with 13th century costume, and setting. The film also follows the original script very closely.. The second interpretation directed by Baz Luhrmann, and could not be more different to the original film. Filmed in Mexico City, it is in a modern setting, with costume, music, and actors to fit. Luhrmann also chose to cut or rearrange much of the original script becausehe chose to replace areas of the script with special effects, music or costume.
There is little doubt that the audience, in the 16th-17th century, had better memories, and probably higher powers of attention than today. This meant that any information, such as time or setting, given to them during a performance was taken in and retained. Most people could not read, because unless the family was very wealthy and could afford home tutoring, they did not go to school or get an education, so they had to rely on word of mouth, and memory. This is apparent in Act1 scene2 of 'Romeo and Juliet', when the servant of Capulet is sent to invite the guests to dinner. He is unable to read the list he has been given, because he is a servant and therefore uneducated, and he asks Romeo who is from a rich family to read it through to him. The servant hears it once and can remember all the guests, of which there are about thirteen, not including sisters, wives, daughters etc. This is an example of why it was required to be able to remember large quantities of information at any one time.
This meant that due to today's developments, when Luhrmann took on the task of making a modern interpretation, he was able to cut lines of the script, which would previously have been essential to the plot. In doing this he could make the play livelier by replacing such lines with background sounds, elaborate scenery, and the movement and facial expressions of the actors. These are particularly effective when used in film, because the camera is able to shoot close-ups of the characters faces, or have a wide shot to show their body language, and their reaction to what is happening around them. This was not the case when Shakespeare's plays were originally performed because many members of the audience were far away from the stage, and could not see, and interpret facial expressions.
Although some of the script has been missed out, the language has still, essentially, been kept the same. In the same way that sounds scenery and movement have been used to replace some of the script, they have also been used to enhance and explain it.
Two of the main themes that run throughout the play are religion and love vs. hate. Religion is apparent from the first scene, of Act1, in the film interpretation, which is set at the petrol garage, when Tybalt and Benvolio start a brawl. In the original script both families are catholic, and attend the same church, however Luhrmann changed this to show an even greater divide, by the Capulet family being Catholic, and the Montague's, being an Anglican family. The youngsters use guns to fight, which are decorated with the family name, and pictures. Tybalt and the other Catholics involved in the brawl, have highly ornate guns, with elaborate decoration over most of the body. This shows the nature of the Catholics, with many detailed idols, and statues to worship. The Montague guns, however, are more simplistic, with a longer and sleeker body and little decoration other than the family crest and name. This reflects the much purer and simpler Anglican ideas.
Religious themes are then continued throughout the play, not only with the frequent appearance, and participation of Friar Lawrence, but also in the language used. When Romeo and Juliet first meet in Act1 scene5, at the Capulet's ball, they speak the words of a sonnet. The sonnet is spoken like a conversation between the two youths, and much imagery is used. The sonnet is built around the idea of Juliet being a 'holy shrine', untouched and innocent, and Romeo being unworthy of such a pure, and perfect 'dear saint'. Words such as 'pilgrim', 'faith', and 'prayer' are used to show the idea that God and destiny led them together because they are true soul mates.
The theme of love vs. hate is fairly obvious in the way that Romeo and Juliet love each other, and Montages, and Capulets hate each other. Although, this in itself causes such a relationship as Romeo and Juliet's to be an impossibility.
For the party scene where Romeo and Juliet first meet, Shakespeare has used very elaborate imagery, which Luhrmann has then emphasised with incredible skill in the way of costume, and set design, to give the party excitement and depth. At the start of the scene in the original script, there is a conversation between the servants, and Old Capulet then welcomes his many guests. Once Romeo and his friends are inside the party, Romeo catches sight of Juliet, and attempts to find out who she is, he fails to do so, and has his soliloquy describing her 'true beauty', starting on line 43 of Act1 scene5. Most of this is missed out in the film interpretation.
Romeo enters the party after having taken an ecstasy tablet, and he seems very disorientated and confused. The camera pans round to show him as dizzy and being high. For the party Romeo is dressed as a knight, showing his strength, and in a way, that he is rescuing Juliet from her future with Paris, and instead leading her in to a future, though it results in being very short, with him. However, Romeo may have rescued Juliet from an arranged marriage, but as a result he brings Juliet to her death.
Romeo and Juliet first meet by catching sight of each other through a fish tank full of tropical fish. I think that the tank was used because it acts as a barrier between them at their first meeting, representing that their lives and love will always be torn apart, and separated, even when they are together, and even before Romeo and Juliet realise their fate. A fish tank was used, in my opinion, because water is pure, sensual and brings together all living things, with a common need to survive. The fish in the tank seem calm and at ease with their surroundings and their lives, they have purpose and direction, yet a small knock on the tank can send waves through the water making their direction change, and leaving them to venture into unknown territory. Romeo and Juliet's love can be represented by this in the sense that they have a loving relationship, and a perfect plan to allow them to be together, yet one mistake, one knock, led to their deaths
It is though, using settings such as this that Luhrmann is able to skip some of the script without affecting the plot or meaning. As some of the script has been cut, another way was needed to show the attitude and characteristics of certain characters. Juliet, for example, is dressed as an angel for the costume party; this shows her purity and innocence. This also links in with her saintly appearance to Romeo, which is mentioned during their sonnet.
In my opinion, the film uses very string and effective imagery which, like the language of all Shakespeare plays, is based on drastic, exciting, and clear-cut contrasts. One of these contrasts is between wet and dry. The tears, blood, and water of the sea, pool and fish tank contrast greatly with the baron, dry land of Mantua and the heat of the city. The liquids represent freedom that seems real yet is contained by solid boundries, and the feelings and emotions that are running high in all the turmoil. Dryness, the opposite of this, gives the feeling of being restricted and starved of an important substance.
Luhrmann does not appear to have fashioned this film with the elitist Shakespeare 'Purist' in mind. Instead by using lively modern imagery, mixed with a rock sound track, Lurmann has made 'Romeo and Juliet' come alive again, except this time with an appeal to a much wider audience than would have been expected. I believe that Luhrmann has achieved what he set out to do, which is re-create the classic story in the way he thinks that Shakespeare might, was he alive today.