It is well known that the tragic story of the
two star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet
has been told in many different ways throughout the time (films, television or
books). I’m pretty sure we have watched/read some of them, and I think we could
agree on that most of them are made for a young audience, performing this love
story passionately and full of romance and tragedy, as it is in the original
version.
Then, I wondered myself, has the film
industry tried to bring Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet closer to different
audiences, for example, to kids? Looking
for interesting adaptations, I found one that immediately caught my attention: Gnomeo and Juliet!
This British 2011 3D computer-animated family
film, directed by Kelly Asbury, is based on William Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet; nevertheless, it addresses
it in a very particular way. Of course the main features of the play are kept,
so in this movie we also have the Capulets and the Montagues, and the feud
between them. However, the fight here has nothing to do with who rules over
Verona, but it is focused on which family has the better looking garden (they
are gnomes, so I guess that is what they should do!).
Several other differences can be found
between the original version, and this attempt to make this masterpiece
understandable for kids. For instance, this movie changes the characterization
of the two lovers. In the book, they just care about each other because they
are madly in love with each other; so they are willing to abandon their
families and traditions to follow their hearts and build this new pure love in
freedom. Nonetheless, in Gnomeo and
Juliet, the main characters are always trying to help their parents in promoting
the value of family, friendship, heroism and love. This may be because of the target
audience of the movie (families and kids), being this one the reason why the
director tried to make the movie lighter (I don’t think parents would like to
have their children rebelling because of this film).
Same happens with death. This is one of the
crucial points in Romeo and Juliet,
but in the movie this topic is almost not covered. That is mainly because kids
tend to identify themselves with the heroes of the movies, and probably the
dead of one of them may have certain impact on the way they are constructing
their lives and identities. What the director did to include, in a lower
intensity, the topic of death inside the movie was to present the “death” of
Tybalt by crashing into a wall and destroying himself. But at the end, Tybalt shows
up alive and having been glued back together (they are gnomes made of ceramic,
so bringing them back to life is way easier than having to use potions: you
just need glue!).
Even the end is different. In both versions,
the lovers fight to defend their love. However, in the animated film they
decided to do it in a singular way. Gnomeo
and Juliet is not about breaking the rules and opening the doors to a new
era, as Romeo and Juliet was at the
time it was written, but about protecting the family and ending the feud of the
two sides. A William Shakespeare statue appears in the movie, saying to Gnomeo
that his life should be more like the tragic lovers Romeo and Juliet, but he
and gnome Juliet did otherwise. At the end of the movie, Gnomeo and Juliet are
believed to be dead crushed by a fountain. In that exact moment, their parents
decide to stop the feud and live in peace. But the lovers get to emerge from
the ruins and now, that there is nothing that can separated them (no more
hatred between their families) they can marry, and everybody lives happily in
this new union of both gnome clans (I wish Romeo and Juliet were as lucky as
the gnomes, but the world as we know it would be completely different if that
would have happened).
In my opinion, even though it seems to be no
connection between the two stories (apart from the characters names), I think
this movie is a good introduction for little kids into the Shakespearean world.
Reading Shakespeare literature is a challenge and, even for us, future
teachers, is hard to understand it sometimes. This movie represents a good way
of arousing children’s curiosity about William Shakespeare and his plays. And
maybe in the future, they will feel interested in finding out about the real
story, which is absolutely deeper and more meaningful.
What do you think about it? Is this a good
representation of Romeo and Juliet
for kids? Do you think they would understand the value of Romeo and Juliet’s
love story if it is presented as it was written? (Considering that nowadays
kids are more mature than we think they are).
No more spoilers (I’m sorry about that), but
if you have a little brother, sister, cousin, or student, and you want him/her
to know that one day, five hundred years ago, a magnificent writer existed in
England, this may be a good and funny option. I’m sure he/she will enjoy the
movie (and you too).
For more information, visit the official website of the movie: Gnomeo and Juliet
Sources:
"Gnomeo & Juliet." Wikipedia. 22 Aug. 2014. Web. 4 Sept. 2014.
Heritage, Stuart. "Gnomeo and
Juliet: A Gnome by Any Other Name ..." Theguardian.com. Guardian News and
Media, 29 Sept. 2010. Web. 4 Sept. 2014
Reyes, Andromeda M. "Of Gnomes
and Letters: The Most Recent Adaptations of R&J." Transmedial
Shakespeare. 18 Mar. 2011. Web. 4 Sept. 2014.
Hi Paulina!
ResponderEliminarI didn't know about this adaptation of "Romeo and Juliet". So after reading yoour post, I think the adaptation made by the director was precisely because children can understand in a more easier way what William Shakespeare was telling in his play. But at the same, I wish that families and even kids can understand how difficult was the life of people centuries ago, and how a patriarchal society was able not only to impose roles to women, but also to decide who they were going to marry.
I think that it is really important to understand the changes that societies have undergone to appreciate we are free (women) and we can create new roles.
Hi Elizabeth!
EliminarThank you so much for reading and reflecting on my entry.
And, as you said, it is all related to the changes that societies have undergone to improve their structures. Romeo and Juliet was the expression of the movement from one to another era. And Gnomeo and Juliet has a different focus, oriented to teach and strength some familiar values especially to the little ones (also known as the target audience of this movie).
:)
Hi, Paulina!
ResponderEliminarAfter reading your post, I have to say that I totally agree with you: both versions are way different. Again, I think there is an explanation for that, and I believe that the one you give is really accurate. Let's be honest: Shakespeare's play is PG+13 (if not, "A" for Adults), and I do not think that kids should be exposed to topics, such as dying for love. On the contrary, I believe that if, for example, the main characters of Gnomeo and Juliet teach children values that our society clearly needs, like cordiality, benevolence, kindness, and hospitality, it would suit them most than showing them a couple of ‘horny’ adolescents killing themselves in order to reunite in their lives after death.
In regard to the case of “Tybalt’s death” in the movie, I think that the director decided to include this to joke about it afterwards, which transforms the whole topic—and meaning—of death and makes it more suitable for children. Likewise, changing the setting and the appearance of the characters has also an intention, and that is making the play more understandable for its target audience.
I would like you to reply this comment to know if you agree with me =).
Wish you the best! See you around!!
Hi Francisca,
EliminarI completely agree with you!
As we both think, this version was modified for an specific target audience, which I believe is really different from the original target audience of this play (noblemen and royals from the Elizabethan period); therefore, there is not harm intended in adapting this story to make it understandable and lighter for kids, especially if that helps them to develop the desire of reading and knowing more and more about Shakespeare's literature.
Thank you for commenting :)