In the balcony scenes, they use close-ups when the characters are intimate and talking to each other intensely. Extreme close-ups are used along with slow music to increase the suspense. As Romeo & Juliet walk, the camera follows them like a shadow.
Both versions use the trademark balcony scene for which the play is known for and both use it in very similar ways. Juliet leans over the balcony as Romeo climbs the tree to get up to Juliet; this is used to show what lengths the two will go to see each other. Also, the trouble they could get into if they got caught.
In Zafirrelli’s version Juliet is more protective over her body when Romeo appears this gives an impression of the olden times while luhrmann’s version she screams at his appearance and they both fall into the pool but she does not separate herself from him like in Zefirelli’s version.
Although there are a lot of similarities there are also a lot of differences. Zeffirelli’s version is all set on the balcony, whereas in Luhrmann’s more modernized version the balcony, where the burse appears to contrast the intention on Shakespeare to create humor, only plays a small part because most of this scene takes place in a pool. This makes the play take a sexual mood more than a classic love story.
The kiss is the essential element in the whole scene. In each version the kiss is interpreted well but different. In zeffirelli’s kiss was a more desperate kind and had a sensation of cant live without you and I want us to be together while Luhrmanns was a passionate kiss but not as desperate as the other.
In both you can tell that both Romeo and Juliet are madly in love, but in Luhrmann’s version Romeo is given a necklace from Juliet. This symbolizes in a big way the love they both share and shows how strongly Juliet feels towards Romeo in only a short amount of time.
In the balcony scene, Zeffirelli focuses mainly on the two characters, whilst Luhrmann’s balcony scene involves much more by filming the surroundings using different camera angles. Also Luhrmann allows us to see Romeo and Juliet as everyday people when he attempts to meet with Juliet in the back garden by his stumbling and also his sneaking manner.
Both versions use part of the script. One of the most important parts missed out is where Juliet compares Romeo to a falcon which is missed out because of its complex language and intense content which creates difficulty at the time of understanding. Since the film is made for a wide range of audience it is wise of both directors to miss this part of the script out.
The interruption of the nurse in both versions is very important because of the suspense it creates, and the prevention of Juliet of seeing Romeo although she comes back a few times to make the audience nervous and feel a tension.
Nearly at the end of the scene in Zeffirelli’s version they put their hands together this gives and impression and a sensation that the separation between them as Romeo leaves hurts a great deal and is hard to manage. The hands are filmed close up to make it a clear symbol of love they have for each other.
The environment in each version was completely different in each, in the zaffirelli version the house was situated in a big garden crowded with big trees and bushes whish gave a dark and sneaky feeling to it. The luhrmann version was a more modern with an elevator and a pool, which make it feel more like a today, everyday feeling.
The effect that Zeffirelli was trying to achieve was Romantic and intimate and that the love they had was so deep that they would go behind everyone’s back to see each other, basically putting their lives on the line to do so.
The Luhrmann version incorporated all of the same but modernized it to appeal to a younger audience and a different generation. He was also able to add a small amount of comedy, which helped capture the younger audience.
The actors which took part in Zefferelli’s version were “total unknowns” this makes it feel like more realistic and a everyday love story while in Luhrmann’s version they were famous actors which made it look like a fantasy and more like a “ their lives not our lives” film.
The costumes each director chooses to use more or less corresponded to the age which each director lived in. Zefferelli chose a more classic costume, more dressy while Luhrmann choose more casual and “hip” looking clothing’s.
My preference as audience would be Luhrmann’s version for its modern ways and because of the famous actors. In my opinion the famousness of the actors attracts more attention then if they are not famous. I also prefer this version because of how it is set it is not set in an old fashioned way but in a very modern and original way. I also appreciate the intervention of humor in some scenes which keeps the attention going. As a teenage I prefer this version because the environment it is set and the way the actor act.
Essay written by Manijeh Torabbeigi S4B
Words: 1153