“Romeo + Juliet” is an updated version of William Shakespeare’s play directed by Baz Luhrmann and released in 1996. The film has entertainment purposes as well as aims to raise awareness about Shakespeare’s play among people, who might be not familiar with it. The film mostly targets teenagers and young adults, showing the possible complications of love between two young people, inserting funny moments and adapting the classic work of art to the modern world.
The film begins with the news broadcast on TV reporting the story of the feud between “two households, both alike in dignity”, Montague and Capulet, and their children’s fatal love that put an end to enmity. The first frames, in the form of newspaper article headlines, briefly introduce the main characters and events that are going to be presented in the film. The scene takes place in modern megalopolis – Verona, the characters represent modern people: they drive cars, smoke cigarettes and take drugs. The plot starts with Montague and Capulet boys meeting at gas station. The meeting ends up with skirmish. The fight results in serious talk between Captain Prince, the chef of the police, and two families. He warns them that somebody will be killed if their feud would continue.
Later on, Romeo’s cousins persuade him to go to the party held at Capulet Mansion that night, even though they were the only people not invited. In general, Romeo is not supportive of his friends’ disturbing actions. It was a fancy-dress party, therefore Romeo and his cousins came in unnoticed. Apparently, the ball was a premise to introduce Paris, “bachelor of the year”, to Juliet, and marry them. However, Juliet is not satisfied with her parents’ plan and instead paying attention to Paris, meets Romeo at the party. They instantly fall in love, and even learning that he is Montague and she – Capulet, cannot stop them from loving each other. Tybalt notices Romeo and intents to kill him, consequently, Romeo and his friend leave, but he returns to see Juliet once more. They swear eternal love to each other and intent to marry. The other day Romeo asks the Friar Lawrence to marry them. Although this request is surprising, since just a few days ago Romeo was in love with Rosaline, the minister hopes that this marriage will reconcile the two families and agrees to do it. After Juliet’s confession they are married.
The film goes on with Romeo trying to make peace with Tybalt, he refuses to fight, and instead Tybalt is having a fight with Mercutio, Romeo’s best friend. In result of this fight, Mercutio gets killed and Romeo is seeking for revenge. He kills Tybalt in a flash of the anger during their fight later. Hence, he is banished from Verona, but the Friar helps him to go to Mantua the next day. Meanwhile, Juliet’s parents arrange the wedding for her and Paris that is going to be in a few days. She has a quarrel with her parents over her refuse to marry him. She goes to Lawrence seeking for help. The priest decides to give Juliet a drink that would make her sleep for forty two hours, so that everybody would think she was dead. He would also send Romeo a note about their plan. After that she could escape together with Romeo to Mantua. However, the plan goes wrong for several reasons. First of all, Romeo’s cousin sees her in the church lying in the coffin and informs him about the scene. Moreover, the Lawrence’s note does not reach Romeo.
Romeo hurries to his beloved saying “I will lie with thee tonight”, despite all the requests of his cousin to be reasonable. On his way, he buys poison and breaks into the church where Juliet is still sleeping, but, according to the priest, should wake up soon. He comes to her coffin, speaks to her, kisses and cries, but does not notice that sometimes she moves. At the moment when Juliet opens her eyes, Romeo drinks all the poison and dies. Being desperate, Juliet takes his gun and shoots herself. The film ends with coming back to news report: “A glooming peace this morning with it brings.” The two families finally became reconciled.
The main theme of the film is love that overcomes everything, even if death is the only way out. Passion is also important, since it drives the main characters through the plot. Passion took Romeo and Juliet’s reason away. Moreover, the themes of friendship and fidelity are clearly seen in the film. One may kill for his friend, as Romeo did revenging Mercutio’s death. The film also presents the theme of opposition between children and parents. Juliet is even ready to refuse her name for the sake of love.
I found the film interesting in terms of its entertainment purposes; however, my thoughts about the film are ambiguous. On the one hand, Luhrmann’s novel approach is definitely respectable. It is very good when trying to attract young audience. The scenes, decorations, costumes, bright characters and actors are impressive. Although modern times are presented, the characters’ language is Shakespearian. The music in the film is also very important, since it does not allow to lose the sense of “modernity” and creates a special atmosphere. Nevertheless, I also tend to react negatively to this film. The lines of Shakespearian “Romeo and Juliet” said: “For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo.” These lines imply tragedy. However, this film seems to be a mix of ridiculous situations and tragedy. Mafia in the film looks like a street gang, the behavior of Capulet and, especially, Montague boys sometimes makes feel embarrassment. The police forces are of extreme size in the film, even though the citizens of Verona barely pay attention to shooting (e.g. the scene on the beach when Mercutio shoots into the sea). Unfortunately, the absurdity of some scenes makes the tragedy of the plot disappear. To my mind, the director completely fulfilled his desire to make the film interesting for teenagers, make a special adaptation, but the classic mood of tragedy is irretrievably lost.
Works Cited
Romeo + Juliet. Youtube, 1996. Web. 8 March 2016.
William Shakespeare. “Romeo and Juliet.” Shakespeare.mit.edu. N. p., n.d. Web. 9 March 2016.
