Romeo and Juliet: Beyond Words (2019)

As members of the feuding Capulet and Montague families, Romeo and Juliet should be sworn enemies, but they fall deeply in love and marry in secret. This sets off a chain of events that culminate in tragedy.

Director:

Michael Nunn

Writers:

William Shakespeare, Michael Nunn

Stars:

William Bracewell, Francesca Hayward, Matthew Ball

Cast

Complete credited cast:
William Bracewell	...	Romeo
Francesca Hayward	...	Juliet
Matthew Ball	...	Tybalt
Marcelino Sambé	...	Mercutio
James Hay	...	Benvolio
Romany Pajdak	...	Nurse
Kristen McNally	...	Lady Capulet
Christopher Saunders	...	Lord Capulet
Bennet Gartside	...	Friar Laurence
Tomas Mock	...	Paris
Laura Morera	...	Harlot
Tierney Heap	...	Harlot
Beatriz Stix-Brunell	...	Harlot

Storyline

As members of the feuding Capulet and Montague families, Romeo and Juliet should be sworn enemies, but they fall deeply in love and marry in secret. That very day, disastrous circumstances lead Romeo to fight and kill Juliet's cousin Tybalt, setting off a chain of events that culminate in tragedy. Juliet takes a potion to avoid the love-match her parents have set up for her, and Romeo, believing she is dead, poisons himself. When she wakes from her deep sleep, Juliet finds the body of her love, and is so distraught that she stabs herself, joining him in death. Starring William Bracewell and Francesca Hayward with artists of The Royal Ballet, this is the story everyone knows, told in a language everyone understands, presented in a way never seen before.

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Plot Keywords:

shakespeare adaptation | ballet | thin attractive woman | 

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Genres:

Drama | Music

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Did You Know?

Trivia

William Bracewell, who plays Romeo. was actually screened to be play the role of Paris. But the directors eventually casted him for Romeo.

User Reviews

When camera ruins the entire movie

R&J Beyond Words is the first ballet movie I saw. I also haven't seen this ballet on the stage and won't be able to compare it.

1. Actors play. Francesca Hayward looked essential in her role - young, naive, and delicate. Juliets feelings are understandable event there is no single line. The character is fully uncovered and understandable. Unfortunately, all others do not bring the same feelings. I didn't get the temper, intentions, and philosophy of any other character. Random face mimics, characters appear and disappear, randomly their mood is changed without a clear reason why. Without lines, the only cinema language here would be - face mimics, body moves, and music. Neither faces nor bodies told me a story.

2. Choreography. Impressed with Francesca again. Probably if there were more solos of each main character - I would understand them better. But everything was mixed in a chaotic way + hard to follow because of really bad camera work.

3. Camera & Film editing. Dance scenes were often cut... I can see a dancer in a medium shot at the beginning and suddenly his legs are partially cut? Then I can see a close-up of the static face with no emotions while they dance? Lots of close-ups are just not justified and useless. While the dance is missed. Framing. In the scene when Juliet dances for Romeo - she is cut, the rule of thirds again failed, lots of people close/around her, and no Romeo. We can see him montaged in close-ups a couple of times... I want to see both actors in the same medium shot scene. The tension between them and do not care about other people's faces. They are secondary. But instead, Juliet looks standalone. In close-ups, faces are often... blurred. If that was on purpose - then I didn't get the point.

4. Music. All fans would hate me here. But, in 2020 we might need more tragedy in really sad moments. For example - the finale scene. Romeo died and Juliet wakes up - light and delicate music (Yes, I am sorry for not knowing what is the title of this composition). Then she sees Romeo and her face screams - but the music is the same. The mood is changed - but the sound remains the same. I can't share her pain with the kind and optimistic composition.

In general, I love the idea. I would not watch it again because of the camera and editing. But hope that if we have more such movies - it would become better. If anyone knows a good example of camera work for a ballet movie - I would be thankful if you share it with me :)

Details

Official Sites:

British Broadcasting Corporation [United Kingdom] Official site

Country:

UK

Release Date:

22 September 2015 (USA)

Also Known As:

Romeo and Juliet: Beyond Words

Filming Locations:

Budapest, Hungary

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$48,125

Company Credits

Production Co:

Romeo and Juliet Productions, Footwork Films, Manilla Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1