Romeo and Juliet meet in New York. I was a teenager when I first saw the movie, and my first impulse was: I want to be in one of these gangs! My second impulse was: I want to fall in love.
But boys are always like this, isn’t true? Fight and love – in that order.
Romeo and Juliet belongs to a tradition of tragic romances stretching back to Ancient Greece. Its plot is based on an Italian tale, translated into verse as The Tragical History of Romeus and Juliet by Arthur Brooke in 1562, and retold in prose in Palace of Pleasure by William Painter in 1582. Brooke and Painter were Shakespeare’s chief sources of inspiration for Romeo and Juliet. He borrowed heavily from both, but developed minor characters, particularly Mercutio and Paris, in order to expand the plot. Believed to be written between 1591 and 1595, the play was first published in a quarto version in 1597. This text was of poor quality, and later editions corrected it, bringing it more in line with Shakespeare’s original text.
This is my generation “translation” of the old drama. Romeo is called Tony, Juliet is called Maria, the rival families ( Montagues and Capulets) are called the Sharks (PuertoRicans) and the Jets (Americans). If you did not see the movie, you must.
By the way, the scene above is “the night”. Gang against gang, love searching for love.
Just saw the recent Salzburg Festival “Opera” version with Rolando Villazon & Nino Machaidze… Beautiful and simultaneously Tragic…
… Tragedy occurs often through misunderstanding…
Love, & understanding, Paul
‘West side story’ by the legendary Leonard Bernstein. ‘I just met a girl named Maria….’, and I was dreaming of love, of course, never of fight and war! I was a girl and, as you say,Paulo Coelho, in ‘Eleven minutes’, I did not have to prove anything. I was always a girl-woman, so simple and at the same time so complicated. Yesterday I was thinking, after ‘Jesus Christ’ what next? West side story, My fair lady, Camelot, Mary Poppins, Jentl, Fiddler on the roof, Cabaret.. I feel privileged, we have lived at the golden times of cinema. LOVE, THELMA
Dear Thelma, if you go back to yesterdays quote of the day, I have left you a message… Love, Paul
PS: I rate Leonard Bernstein’s Maria right up there with Franz Schubert’s Ave Maria… both musically & lyrically very moving indeed
I always liked “Romeo and Juliet”, but I’ve never seen this version, beautiful, thank you.
“fight and love”…love is like that too sometimes, unfortunately or maybe not.
love
Agnieszka
Dear Paul from Austria, I have tried many times to sign in to google account, from picassa, but I got mixed up with names, passwords e.t.c…. Once too small password, the second not the right name . I told you, I am hopeless with the internet.. In order to remember so many ..names and passwords I tried to keep a ..diary. Well I am using my name and surname, so I am sure I will never forget it, except in case of Alzheimer’s decease! I may ask the help of my daughters or grand-daughter.[She is 12 years old and my grand-son is 15]. Tonight we are going to the film MAMMA MIA , another musical with ‘older’ songs.. We saw the musical in London.LOVE,THELMA
I really enjoyed the scene,they feel so alive.I can understand your reaction,they make me feel in the same way,I mean one wants to be part of life.Sure,the temptation of love is thing I am longing for.Less being part of a gang,because the spirit of the flock of sheeps
cannot represent me.Anyway nice scene.I loved it
Beautiful Paulo!!! I haven’t seen this movie, so I’ll look for it!!!
Thank you so much!!! Thank you for your energy and time you are givings us, I appreciate very much!!!
I am very grateful for you being!!!
Love and Light!!!!