I am looking at act 3 scene 1 and act 5 scene 3 from both directors approaches discussing what they have in common and what effect they have on a younger audience.
In act 3 scene 1 of Zefirelli’s Romeo and Juliet, the scene opens onto a fountain in an open square in a small town in north Italy. The set is very traditional and we see this through the buildings and costumes worn by all the people in the square. Mercutio and Tybalt are both in doublets and when the fight starts they remove their doublets so they are unencumbered therefore we know it will be a serious fight, resulting in a death.
Zefirelli uses lots of special effects, when Mercutio and Tybalt are fighting sword sounds are played to emphasise the fight-taking place. When Romeo kills Tybalt a church bell is rung at Tybalt’s death.
Throughout act 3 scene 1 of Zefirelli’s film the lighting used is very high key, bright and hot, it’s almost to make the mood seem warmer, even though someone is going to be killed, its preparing you for the worst.
There are lots of interesting camera shots used in Zefirelli’s film, when the Capulets are coming towards Mercutio there is a long shot, we the audience are then left to think what is going to happen. In the middle of the fight when Tybalt has his sword pressed against Mercutio’s chest we see a point of view shot from Tybalt, this shot creates a lot of tension for the audience because we don’t know if Tybalt is going to kill Mercutio. Straight away the director uses rapid editing to jump to the next camera shot of Mercutios facial expression, we see that he looks worried as he knows none of them are joking anymore. The director makes the shot out of focus when Mercutio is looking at Romeo and he has been stabbed because it shows he is dying, it makes us feel sorry for romeo and angry at Tybalt for slaying him.
All the camera shots are very effective when they have been put together through rapid editing as it builds tension. In this scene the shots change a lot and Zefirelli uses lots of quick shots.
There is no soundtrack in Zefirelli’s Romeo and Juliet but musical instruments are played through the scenes to make it more dramatic. At Mercutio’s death violins are played as it makes it seem more urgent and creates a more dramatic atmosphere for what is going to come next in the film.
In act 3 scene 1 of Luhrmann’s Romeo and Juliet the set opens onto a beach with beach huts, in the distance there are ruins of a crumbling arch with scaffold, rubbish and graffiti. It is all very modern and the costumes of the actors are all to date, Mercutio and Benvolio are wearing brightly coloured shirts. The props are also very modern, cars, palm trees.
Baz Luhrmann has a few special effects in this scene as he uses the soundtrack in their place; there is a roll of thunder as tension builds between Tybalt and Romeo.
The lighting used is low key and cold due to what is going to happen in the scene.
There is a range of camera shots used in Luhrmann’s Romeo and Juliet. There is a close up of Mercutio and Tybalt’s faces; this shows the audience the hatred between them. Slow motion as Tybalt stabs Mercutio, low angle wide shot as Mercutio dies. There is grey sky and rolling clouds. All these shots emphasise what has happened and how they all feel.
Luhrmann’s uses rapid straight cuts to go from one shot to the other
Luhrmann’s film uses lots of music, some well known, he plays bad boy music when Tybalt walks up to Mercutio because Tybalt thinks he is a bad boy.
In act 3 scene 1 both directors try to bring the audience into the film by using point of view shots, the audience feel as if they are that character.
As the audience we have a clear understanding of what’s going on, not just by what they are saying the music helps Aswell.
In act 5 scene 3 of Luhrmann’s Romeo and Juliet, the set opens at Juliet’s tomb, its very modern inside with neon crosses filling the aisle, and Juliet is lying on a bed at the end of the tomb. This is not like any normal tomb; it’s more like a very extravagant church.
There is a soft, warm, gentle glow from the candles and neon lights. The lighting makes it all seem peaceful. The audience get the impression that everything will work out.
Lots of camera shots are used to show us what the characters are feeling. Close up of Romeo when he can see Juliet through the crack in the door, you can see his facial expression, he looks sad but also desperate to get inside to see Juliet. Point of view shot Romeo looking at Juliet. Steady cam following Romeo down the aisle to Juliet. Close up of Romeo hugging Juliet, makes us feel sorry for Romeo. We are also waiting for Juliet to wake but she doesn’t. Close up of Romeo dying, there is no music apart from a soft violin sound playing in the background. All theses camera shots give the audience some understanding of what Romeo feels for Juliet. Luhrmann uses quick flick editing to move from on shot to the other, this is used well because the audience is always concentrating on what is going on, so they don’t get bored.
Romeo, when Juliet wakes up doesn’t notice her, this creates tension and apprehension, we want Juliet to stop him from killing himself but she doesn’t. Then the scene ends with a slow motion montage of all the happy scenes in the play. There is no music in this scene apart from soft violin playing and choir singing according to the mood and what is happening.
Act 5 scene 3 in Zefirelli’s film, the set opens in a graveyard, and stone steps down underground into the tomb. Inside there are large pillars and slabs with corpses in various states of decay. On the wall was a big mural, very traditional.
The lighting was very low key, night-light so people were using torches, and lots of shadows were made. Under lighting of Juliet’s face as Romeo sees corpses. The lighting changes the mood in the tomb; it makes it seem spooky and makes Romeo feel alone.
Two mid shots are used of Romeo holding Juliet’s body as he speaks to her, we again are wishing for Juliet to wake up and it all to be happy but it doesn’t. Point of view, from Romeo looking at Juliet’s face, we are put into Romeo’s position and it makes you understand the hurt romeo feels about Juliet’s death. There is one final close up of Romeo’s hand (trembling) as he raises Juliet’s hand to his lips and he says.
“With a kiss I die”. These are the last words Romeo says to Juliet before he drinks the poison.
There is no soundtrack in this scene but there is music and special effects. Loud string music when Romeo swallows the poison. Timing of Romeo and Juliet’s death, separate flute/oboe as Juliet wakes, almost sounds hopeful, but it isn’t as she finds Romeo dead.
In this scene both Franco Zefirelli and Baz Luhrmann use more camera shots to give the audience an insight into what the characters are really feeling, as we see more close ups of their faces, we also hear the tension build by all the music and special effects played in the background.
As the audience watching the film makes you want to make another version of the play, this way you can make your own adaptations and this would make your personal response about the film reflect off your own version.
The main similarities between the two plays are that both directors have used the same sort of camera shots to bring out the tension and drama in the play, the main differences are luhrmann’s film left out Paris coming to the tomb and romeo drinking poison to kill himself. And Zefirelli’s film was more traditional than luhrmann’s.
In my opinion I haven’t got a favourite film because even though one film has made adaptations and taken out a character or added something in to their version, the plays still create the same amount of tragedy as the other, all the difference is, is that one appeals to a younger generation and the other one appeals to another.
