Romeo and Juliet, Film and Litelature

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             Instead of being a costume drama set in the 15th century, Romeo and Juliet is transposed to modern-day Verona Beach. Luhrmann sets Romeo and Juliet in a mythical Florida town called Verona Beach. This town is completely created artistically by the filmmakers, you can't visit it. It was filmed in Mexico City and in locations around Veracruz, Mexico, but the way it is handled, it becomes a real place to the audience. Towering over the city are a blocky stone Virgin Mary at the Chapel Monument and two great skyscrapers, marked "Montague" and "Capulet.".
             The prologue plays a huge part at the beginning of the film. It is played 3 times over. Once by the news reporter on the television, again on signs around Verona City, and again as text flashing on the screen. In the film the prologue is used to wet peoples appetite and get them interested and exited- loud powerful music and action during the prologue do this effectively.
             The opening scene in the Luhrman version is set in a typical U.S gas station. It is a busy and open area, much like the market setting portrayed in the original script, which is also busy. This is very clever of Luhrman because he is trying to modernise the original setting without losing the feeling of an open and busy area. A market square in modern America would be very strange. At the start of the scene in the Luhrman version we see the first of our families, the Montagues. They seem like typical American youngsters having fun in their car with the music turned up. They pull into a gas station and all seems well until the second family arrives, the Capulets. They seem more suave, they are smart looking Latinos, and they seem serious compared to the fun loving colourful Montagues. This is a good way of showing the differences between the two families. In the Luhrman version the dress is close to modern day attire, Hawaiian shirts and tuxedos.