Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet portrays the concept of forbidden love of two teens from opposing families. Originally published in 1597, William Shakespeare dived into the themes of love and the risk the star-crossed lovers took to be together. Four centuries later, in 1996, Baz Luhrmann’s adaption of the play, starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Romeo and Clair Danes as Juliet emphasised modern elements in the characters, theme, settings using modernised filmic, aesthetic and play conventions. Baz Luhrmann’s interpretation of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet conveyed effective manipulation of film conventions to appeal to modern audiences, thereby making the themes, characters and settings of the classic play accessible.
Baz Luhrmann portrays all of the characters with a modern twist, appealing to the modern audience. In the play Romeo is portrayed as young and passionate, desperate for the Juliet’s love. This is evident through words – “He jests at scars that never felt a wound”, meaning that he has a moved on from his previous love and is desperate for Juliet’s approval. Baz Luhrmann displays Romeo as clumsy and foolish throughout the balcony scene. He directs this by Romeo entering the Capulets home in a foolish and risky manner. Throughout his lines, his voice is an intense whisper presenting his eagerness for Juliet’s attention. Moreover, with the use of filmic conventions, a close up shot of Romeo looking mesmerised by Juliet is focused on to emphasis his impulsive young love for her. Juliet on the other hand, is presented as calm and collected through the use of aesthetic conventions such as her voice, movement and costume in the original play. She is described as “a bright angel, winged messenger from heaven” by a breathless love -struck Romeo. Ideally, in the adaption, Juliet Is logical and neat, dressed as an angel from the party, likewise Romeo as a knight. Baz Luhrmann presents Juliet as Romeos admirable angel, whereas in Juliet’s eye Romeo is her knight in shining armour. Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo and Juliet appeals to modern audiences by combining Shakespeare’s language. By using effective filmic and aesthetic conventions such as close up shots and costuming, a more timeless and compelling love story was brought to life through the characters.
In the adaption, the theme of love and risk was effectively exhibited through the use of filmic conventions. Baz Luhrmann provides a chaotic scene of Romeo, unable to get Juliet out of his mind, running back to go see her. Baz Luhrmann uses chaotic low shots of the running to emphasize the risk of Romeo’s decision. The camera follows behind him closely, intensifying the recklessness, symbolizing his choice to prioritize love over safety. “My life was better ended by their hate, than death prorogued, wanting thy love”, Shakespeare has done this to demonstrate the desperateness that Romeo has for Juliet, although the family feud. Baz Luhrmann explores the theme of risk and love further as he uses close up shot of Romeo and Juliet’s faces, whilst switching to the security guard patrolling the area. This makes the audience feel tension for the lovers, as their love for one another is putting them at risk. Furthermore, by placing Romeo and Juliet in the pool, Baz Luhrmann emphasises their love as pure, as water symbolises purity. Thereby, in the adaptation, Baz Luhrmann effectively captured the themes of love and risk through filmic conventions such as chaotic camera angles, and symbolic meanings, portraying the risk Romeo and Juliet take for their love to be complete.
By utilising modern filmic and aesthetic conventions, Baz Luhrmann’s adaption reimagines the setting for Act 2 Scene 2, to appeal to modern audience. Luhrmann incorporates the use of neon fairy lights and a striking urban aesthetic to capture the romantic and timeless love. In the original play, Shakespeare has Romeo and Juliet in a quiet, moonlit garden, to emphasise on the intimacy and secrecy of there meeting. By placing Juliet on the balcony, Shakespeare create a deeper understanding on the social distance between her and Romeo. Although Luhrmann keeps somewhat of the originality of Shakespeare’s scene, he includes neon lights as a elegant and captivating aesthetic. This change in setting reflects the dangerous love and intensity of there relationship, although there feuding family. Correspondingly, through the use of close-up shots, Baz Luhrmann captivates the audience, diving into the emotions of the lovers, while they highlight the risk of their forbidden love. Furthermore, the contemporary music enhances the romantic emotions, replacing the traditional ballad of the original play. By Juliet saying, “O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?” in a calm desirable tone, she emphasizes the timeless struggle between the two, asking why he had to be the son of an enemy, the Montagues. By including some originality of the original play and adding a more modern aesthetic, Baz Luhrmann presents the depth of the emotion between the love birds through the setting.