Baz Luhrmann's Film Adaptation of Romeo and Juliet

Baz Luhrmann's Film Adaptation of Romeo and Juliet

Shakespeare's use of language reflects the theatre of his day. There

were no elaborate set designs, costumes, lighting or sound effects and

there were also only a small number of actors playing many different

parts. This could get confusing and therefore the language and imagery

had to do all the work for the audience, as the words were the only

tools available to help them imagine the scenes vividly.

In the prologue of "Romeo and Juliet", line number twelve; "Is now the

two hours' traffic of our stage" and the very last words; "our toil

shall strive to mend", have significant meaning. These sentences,

spoken by the chorus, highlight to the audience the key plot elements

to come. It gives the audience an idea of what they are about to watch

or read and makes the ensuing action more intelligible. This dramatic

convention therefore acts almost like a movie trailer. In Baz

Luhrmann's film adaptation of the play, the prologue begins with a

long shot of a television (within a television), with a reporter

speaking to us from inside of it. Behind the reporter's left shoulder

are the words "star-crossed lovers" and a symbol of a broken ring.

This, in the first minute of the play, already introduces us to the

fact that Romeo and Juliet are star-crossed lovers, which is a major

theme throughout the entire play. The news reporter then delivers the

whole prologue from beginning to end, before the camera zooms further

and further in until the point of extreme close up, at which point the

prologue changes. This is how Baz Luhrmann achieves a similar effect

to Shakespeare's dramatic use of the pr...

... middle of paper ...

...rologue! At the very end of the

prologue, the title "Romeo + Juliet" comes up and the 'plus' sign is

actually made to suggest a Christian cross. This subtly reminds us of

the religious side of the play. This includes the Friar, who is a

religious personage, the wedding that Romeo and Juliet have and also

the whole theme of destiny and some divinity or higher power looking

over and controlling us in life.

So in conclusion, this is how Baz Luhrmann's film adaptation of the

prologue from "Romeo and Juliet" successfully visually highlights

Shakespeare's rich language and imagery. We can see how he has gone

through the prologue and then fairly systematically translated its

deeper meaning, in remarkably creative ways. He effectively translates

all the messages of the prologue in a contemporary and entertaining

context.