Comparing Baz Luhrman and Zefferelli's Directing styles of Romeo and Juliet

Comparing Baz Luhrman and Zefferelli's Directing styles of Romeo and Juliet

Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet in 1598, and since this time the

play has been modified to suit many different directors styles and

their interpretations of Shakespeares work. In the different versions

of Romeo and Juliet that we saw there were 4 main contexts for us the

viewer. The first context is n 1998 Baz Luhrman produced the film to

appeal to a modern audience, but Zeferelli made his version of Romeo

and Juliet in 1960 which he set in medieval Italy making a second

context. The third context is in 1598 when Shakespeare wrote the play.

This period is one of the most important as it has the original text.

We can look at the text in Lehrmans and Zeferellis to see which parts

of Shakespeares writing they have used and how they have rearranged

it. This asks us the question of if the original text should be

changed. The last context is our time now and how it has an affect on

a modern audience. We can see if we relate to the story and what

impression it has on us.

Baz Luhrman produced a modern version of Romeo and Juliet. Making it

appeal to our times by setting the film in an urban area of America.

He had modern props using guns instead of swords and discos with

flashing lights and rock music.

When Romeo and Juliet first see each other through the fish tank their

eyes look at each other curiously. Baz Luhrman effectively creates the

impression of love at first site. When the camera looks at either

Romeo or Juliet you can always see the other person by the reflection

in the glass on the fish tank, so you can see each persons reaction to

each other at the same time making the two look right together from

the start. When Juliet was dancing with Paris, Romeo has such a strong

effect on her she keeps looking over her shoulder towards Romeo, as if

unable to believe that he is really there looking at her intently.