Film Analysis: Sound and Music
Sound and Music play a huge role in the production of movies from all genres as even the simplest background sound effect, or sudden change in music can enhance the experience of the viewer. The soundtrack for ‘Romeo and Juliet’ was hand picked by Nellee Hooper and Baz Luhrmann to specifically set the mood and tone of each scene and moment. Throughout this film, the sounds and music reflect this beautiful love story and strengthen the drama in each instant.
An important scene in ‘Romeo and Juliet’ was the death of Romeo’s good friend Mercutio who is tragically slain by Tybalt. The moments leading to Mercutio being injured went back and forth building up then falling down to the sound of a soft violin. Through the text, “Ay, ay a scratch.” Act 3 Scene 1 line 97, the music follows along and builds tension to make it nearly impossible to look away. As he is struck, the violin grows louder and sorrowful and thunder strikes in the background as he falls. This specific scene shows that this moment was heartbreaking for Romeo to watch and increased the intensity by adding the thunder striking. Thunder usually means
…show more content…
In the book and the film, it took slightly different turns but the same tragedy was told. In the film, just as she wakes up from her sleep a faint sound of birds chirps in the distance which adds to the story by symbolizing her freedom and giving that foreshadowing for how she will finally be at peace. In the book, Juliet takes her life through the use of a dagar and says, “There rust, and let me die.” Act 5 Scene 1 line 174 as her last words. After she says these words in the movie, calm, happy music plays softly but also the sound of the gunshot slowly fades out. This scene was difficult for the producers to modify but adding the sounds and music connect the feeling and emotion to the