The 1996 Baz Lurhman Interpretation of Rome and Juliet

I will be doing my micro analysis on the 1996 Baz Lurhman interpretation of Romeo + Juliet, the scene I have chosen to analyse takes place after the news report monologue in which after the two families are introduced. The Capulets and the Montagues engage in an altercation at the petrol station and I will discuss how mise-en-scene and cinematography are used in this sequence to construct meaning. Initially a fast paced high angled tracking shot of the streets, houses and buildings are used which displays the setting; this fast tracking shot is used along with intense non diegetic music which connotes a frantic and chaotic feeling for the spectator or could be used to reflect the tone of the movie. Text then appears on the screen reading ‘In fair Verona’ the type face used was sans serif in childish bubble writing, a type face which is typically associated with comic books subsequently setting the tone of the film. Again numerous fast tracking shots of the chaotic urban city with zooms are used to reinforce the opening feel of bedlam. In a wide establishing shot, we can see the positioning of the Capulet and the Montague towers showing that the two families live and or work next to each other and that they are openly in close competition with each other. Then a fast tracking shot with a contra-zoom is used to get extreme close up shots of the Jesus statue then the Capulet tower and the Montague tower to a tracking shot of the surrounding areas, these types of shots