The Films of Franco Zeffirelli versus Baz Luhbrmann's Version of Romeo and Juliet

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The Films of Franco Zeffirelli versus Baz Luhbrmann's Version of Romeo and Juliet

Two films, both alike in content, set in fair Verona, where the directors laid out their scene, one created by Franco Zeffirelli in 1968 and the other by Baz Luhbrmann in 1996. Both cinematic, both staying true to the plot and dialogue, each one radically different than the other, Zeffirelli sets his film within historical actuality, while Luhbrmann presents his with a modern twist. A story of love, revenge and death, revolving around a pair of star-crossed lovers, interpreted differently, but presented in the same form.

Zeffirelli and Luhbrmann, both had the task of displaying the story of Romeo and Juliet in a cinematic form. Their adaptations of a stage play to a film, allowed them to interpret the story differently. In comparing these films, one must first look at the chorus, (the first character introduced in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.) Zeffirelli use of the chorus, is subtle (when compared to Luhbrmann's chorus), he employs a series of shot of Verona accompanied by a voiceover. Easing the viewer into the story as a spectator and nothing more. The music he chooses is classical, but calm and soothing. While Luhbrmann use of the chorus is an in your face type technique. Luhbrmann's chorus is more complex, he choose two repeat the chorus twice. Once as a news report, framed within a TV, the other is presented as an advertisement that tells the viewer to stay tuned for more. Luhbrmann uses a montage of shots consisting of Verona, scenes coming up in the film and special effects, which places the viewer within the film. Luhbrmann intertwines the montage with a voiceover of the chorus, in addition to the voiceover he place the Chorus's sc...

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...this can be seen are the following: Tybalt's death, the scene cuts from Romeo avenging Mercutio's death (Act III, scene I) edited with Juliet's monologue of her love for Romeo (Act III, scene II). And the death of Romeo and Juliet, (Act III, scene III) where Juliet awakes before Romeo's death.

Special effects are also used in Luhbrmann's film, in the following manner: both of Friar Lawrence monologues. (Act II, Scene II and Act Iv, Scene I) Luhbrmann use these to parts in the film a commercial explaining what is to come.

In conclusion, Romeo and Juliet, is the perfect of Shakespeare plays to be done as a film, both filmmakers had different interpretation of the story. It is a film, which can reach the masses, everyone is familiar with it, and it is a great story.

Bibliography:

Romeo and Juliet dir Luhbrmann 1996

Romeo and juliet dir Zeffirelli 1968

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