Romeo & Juliet has been reinterpreted almost since the ink dried on the original. And there have been several queer imaginings of the world’s most famous love story. But Private Romeo takes the idea of forbidden love and moves it to a military academy, where the star-crossed lovers are young cadets-in-training. And it’s got some star power: Director Alan Brown helmed the critically lauded sleeper The Book of Love and stars Seth Numrich (“Romeo”) and Matt Doyle (“Juliet”) both appeared in the Tony-winning production of War Horse on Broadway.
The film, which won the Grand Jury Prize for Outstanding Actor at the 2011 Outfest Film Festival and was an official selection at Frameline and QFest, “incorporat[es] the original text of Romeo and Juliet, YouTube videos, and lip-synched Indie rock music,” according to its press release, and “takes us to a mysterious and tender place that only Shakespeare could have inspired.”
Private Romeo opens at Cinema Village in New York on Februrary 12. Check the website for future screenings.
Caliban
This looks like it could be good. I say that with complete surprise because Romeo and Juliet updates and re-imaginings have been done to death.
ian
I’ve heard only good things of this. From what I understand, the cadets are studying Romeo and Juliet in class and things develop from there. I am hoping it’s on the same par as “Weekend”, or at least comes close. It’s an interesting re-imagining of the story at least.
Freddie
Soldiers are so hot.
randy
Sounds like it’s similiar to the stage play, “Shakespeare’s R&J” by Joe Calarco.
Andrew
This could have been so good, but I hate Shakespeare. I don’t understand it and think it’s silly to talk that way. RATS.
Eric in Chicago
I saw this at REEELING the GLBT film fest in Chicago. You have to get used to the premise – that these guys are talking in the Shakespeare text but they are in the modern setting. There is a few lines of dialogue which are “normal”. You also have to buy into the men being called the womens names etc. If you can get past that – it’s a really interesting, engaging film with some really fine acting performances by the entire cast. (especially Hale Applemen). If you’re expecting the typical dumb gay film – it’s not.
ian
@Eric in Chicago:
Yeah, I thought they might substitute Julian for Julia.