Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is a story that is still profound and relevant today, some four hundred years after it was originally published. Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 film version of the play is a postmodern interpretation and he has successfully “made [the story] available to a whole new audience” (Hutcheon. 2) through his use of interesting film techniques that are able to tell the story in an innovative way.
In the film, Luhrmann does away with the famous balcony but rather has Romeo and Juliet meet next to the swimming pool in the Capulet mansion. In this scene, Luhrmann uses a close up while Romeo is saying his famous lines “But soft, what light through yonder window breaks?” (Shakespeare. 2.1)
A close up is used for capturing facial expressions and emotions in intimate or intense moments, and Luhrmann’s close up frames Romeo’s face in a Rembrandt lighting effect. This creates intense emotion because the audience is able to look directly into Romeo’s eyes and it enhances the dialogue because we are able to understand Romeo’s passion for Juliet and his intense need to see her. As Juliet says “O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?” (Shakespeare. 2.1) the close up portrays Romeo’s utter surprise and delight at Juliet saying
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45), and then Luhrmann introduces a low angle shot. This type of shot positions the camera on the floor looking up and is usually used to make a character seem important, honourable or admired. Luhrmann uses it when Juliet is getting out of the pool to leave Romeo and go and back to her room. This creates the effect that she is of importance because Romeo is looking up at her as she is moving away. She clearly has the upper hand in this scene because Romeo wants her to stay. As he looks up at her to beg her to remain with him, the low angle shot communicates to the audience that he idolises her and that in his mind she is “raised to a pedestal” (Martin.