Essay Comparing Zeffirelli And Luhrmann's Romeo

Despite possessing varying fortes, both Zeffirelli and Luhrmann are renowned for creating remarkable movies based on Shakespeare's play, Romeo and Juliet. The contrasting films are very different, including settings with a large time gap, instrumental and vocal music choices, but most visually notable, the costumes. Zeffirelli and Luhrmann’s interpretations of Romeo are portrayed through his costuming, illustrating how differing personalities are derived from the same role. Before the Capulets’ party, Romeo claims, “I do love a women,” referring to Rosaline (1.1.212). However, in the same day, after he sees Juliet, he declares “I ne’er saw true beauty till this night” (1.5.60). Zeffirelli analyzes those two lines and dresses Romeo in a predator-like mask
Romeo’s hawaiian shirt symbolizes his commitment to Juliet, as he couldn’t change out of his shirt due to his desire to spend as much time with her as he could. Zeffireli’s dark Romeo is portrayed as negative whereas Luhrman’s Romeo is a softer, more romantic character. Following the demise of the two young lovers, Romeo's dead body is dressed in faded Montague house colors for Zeffirelli’s film, and in a white body bag for Luhrman. The faded blue and black is Romeo’s faded loyalty to his house, depicting Romeo as untrustworthy. A white body bag represents the pure intentions of Romeo’s suicide, trying to fend off Juliet’s loneliness in death, “For the fear of that i will stay with thee” (5.3.106). The underlying characterizations of Romeo’s outfits depict him in a negative manner with darker colors and unreliable traits as a young lover in Zeffieli’s movie. IN Luhrman’s movie, Romeo is a kind-hearted, righteous character with light colors and genuine intentions. Although both films were based off the same script, minor details such as costuming can provide all the worlds a