Compare the suicide scenes from two different film versions of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet'

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Compare the suicide scenes from two different film versions of Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’

I will compare the suicide scenes from the two different film versions of Shakespeare’s play ‘Romeo and Juliet’. It is a media assignment so I have to describe how the camera shots manipulate you into understanding the feelings of the characters. Franco Zeffirelli’s version released in 1968, was set in Verona Italy in the fifteenth century. Baz Luherman’s version released in 1997 was set in Verona beach USA in the twentieth century. Both directors have used Shakespearean language but have edited and changed some of the original text.

        The starts of the scenes in the two films are very different to each other. In the Zeffirelli’s, it’s very gloomy and quiet, whereas in the Luherman’s version it’s very loud and exhilarating. This is probably because a contemporary audience is used to this kind of thing.

In Zeffirelli’s version, the scene is opened as Romeo makes his way to the vault in darkness, with a lit torch. He breaks into the vault with a stone. Sombre, classical music fills the air as he enters the vault; back lighting is used to create shadows, and under lighting comes from below to create suspense. The atmosphere is very dismal, dark and depressing. This is because Romeo is surrounded by cobwebs and rotting bodies of Juliet’s ancestors, setting the mood of uneasiness. This creates grimness and horror.

On the other hand in the Luherman’s version, the start of the scene involves cars, search lights and helicopters whilst Romeo is on the run from a desperate police chase. The rapid camera shots emphasise the speed and the action. The police threaten to shoot him so he takes a hostage at the church steps. When he releases the hostage and goes inside the church it’s almost as if he doesn’t realise where he is. A long shot shows Romeo walking slowly down the church aisle towards Juliet who is lying on the altar; the long shot also shows that only he and Juliet are in the church. When Romeo entered the church a soloist sings loud choir music which gets louder the nearer he reaches Juliet the camera focuses on Juliet on the altar and it slowly moves nearer showing us what Romeo is seeing and that he is approaching her. This creates a fairytale atmosphere, like sleeping beauty. This is in contrast to Zefferelli’s version.

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In Zeffirelli’s version, Romeo spots Juliet. A long shot shows her laid down on a tomb stone covered in a shroud of gauze material, dressed in her best clothes, a red, jewelled, expensive gown and cap. He is thrilled to see her and quickly makes his way towards her commenting on her beauty, because he believes her to be dead; he cannot believe how beautiful she still looks. Then he notices Tybalt whom he killed in a duel, Juliet’s cousin. He promises to kill himself with the same hand he used to kill Tybalt. Romeo reproaches Juliet and makes haste ...

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