Two families of Verona, the Montagues and the Capulets, have been feuding with each other for years. Young Romeo Montague falls hopelessly in love with Juliet Capulet at first sight and she returns his affections. But will the families allow their love?
... the excessive wailing of the ill-fated couple as they suffer all manner of ... set-backs made me want to turn them over my knee and 'give you something to cry about.'
Despite major trimmings of Shakespeare's text, this is a lovely version of the much-filmed play, largely due to the casting of the leads with handsome, unknown teenagers.
The sets are tight and stagey, every corner is decorated with baroque lushness, every shot framed by a velvet curtain or silvery branch. And the dialogue isn't caged in by any attempts at naturalism.
