Romeo and Juliet
1968
Romeo and Juliet’s first kiss
Student: Liciu (Sima) Roxana-Giorgiana
Film overview
Director: Franco Zeffirelli
Producers: John Brabourne,
Anthony Havelock-Allan
Release date: the 5th of March
1968 (UK)
Language: English
Based on: Romeo and Juliet by
William Shakespeare
Cast: Leonard Whiting, Olivia
Hussey, Milo O'Shea, Michael
York, John McEnery, Natasha
Parry, Pat Heywood, Robert
Stephens
Franco Zeffirelli
He owes his success in adapting Shakespeare to what he
calls a “radical return” to the original.
Zeffirelli didn’t recreate the period when the play was
produced, but the earlier time and place in which it was set.
Within Romeo and Juliet, Zeffirelli expands the divide
between the generations
The film suggests the unfairness of a society where the old
live while the young die.
The older generation are reduced and condemned in order
to give full expression to the young
Romeo and Juliet’s first kiss
-scene analysis-
The young versus the old
Analysis
The first meeting between Romeo and Juliet takes
place at the Capulet ball
From the beginning of the scene we can notice the
two generations: the young (Romeo and Juliet) and
the old generation
Romeo, who wears a mask, is looking for Juliet in the
crowd
Sound
Diegetic sound- the sound of the guitar- it functions as a
vital element
It creates an intimate atmosphere between the two
protagonists, even though they were in a crowded place
(the ball)
It anticipates the romantic scene that is going to take place
The conversation held by Romeo and Juliet- they both
whisper (it can indicate shyness, as far as Juliet is
concerned, or fear of being rejected- in the case of Romeo
Gestures
Romeo catches and
touches Juliet’s hand
This scene reveals that
there is a strong connection
between Romeo and Juliet
It also pictures Romeo as a
brave young man, looking
forward to having a close
encounter with the one he
falls in love with
Gestures
Romeo and Juliet get close to each other, they are holding hands
(close-up illustrating intimacy)
The way they look at each other shows the true love they both
experience
Gestures
Romeo kisses Juliet for the first time
There is a romantic atmosphere: the sound of the
guitar, the artificial light that both suggest intimacy
Costumes
The costumes illustrate the characters’ social status
They also emphasize the period when the action takes
place
Juliet:
Wears expensive jewels and a luxurious dress, which
highlights the social status of her family ( rich members
of the society)
Romeo:
-wears dark clothes and a mask that could mean he didn’t
want to be recognized at the ball
Costumes
The rivalry between the two family is also marked by
the color of their clothes:
The Capulets- red, orange
The Montagues- blue, purple, green
Both the Montagues and the Capulets were strong
families
They will never accept Romeo and Juliet’s love
