Private Romeo (2011)
When eight male cadets are left behind at an isolated military high school, the greatest romantic drama ever written seeps out of the classroom and permeates their lives.
- Alan Brown
- Alan Brown
- William Shakespeare
Rating: 5.7/10 by 57 users
Alternative Title:
Soldato Romeo - IT
罗密欧与罗密欧 - CN
专属罗密欧 - CN
The Shakespeare Project - US
Country:
United States of America
Language:
English
Runtime: 01 hour 37 minutes
Budget: $0
Revenue: $0
Plot Keyword: uniform, cadet, kiss, gym, lgbt, shakespeare in modern dress, military academy
This is quite a creative reimagining of the "Romeo & Juliet" story that shifts the setting from Verona to an American military academy. Therein, are eight cadets who essentially adopt the roles of the Montagues and Capulets - but with a difference. All are male. Using an hybrid of Shakespeare's own language and a modern day soundtrack along with an overtly militaristic scenario, the love story unfolds. Creator Alan Brown has done quite well here. Clearly the budget was pretty minimal, but he uses light and shadow, pulls focus, includes dance and sport - all to create, effectively enough, a modern-day appreciation of affection, bigotry and intolerance. It's not that it swipes at the US military's approach to being gay, per se, it highlights it - and it also demonstrates that regardless of the overarching "policy", it is down to individual people to implement lasting change and improvements. The cast work well together and the film, though it does require concentration, flows along well. Maybe a bit too long, and the sound mix isn't always the best - but it's an interesting watch this.
