Using the same Screenlife technology that powered films like 2018’s innovative
Searching, director
Romeo and Juliet through phone screens and social media accounts in his debut feature
R#J. That approach might sound obnoxious, but for the most part, it works surprisingly well. Just as Baz Luhrmann did in 1996 with his stylish
Romeo + Juliet, Williams aims to keep the story fresh for the next generation, and despite using Instagram and FaceTime as the key methods of communication between his characters, he’s able to tap into the raw romance at the core of this star-crossed lovers’ tale.
Before the movie started, Romeo Montague (
‘R#J’ Film Review: Shakespeare for Social Media? LOL, OK
Sundance 2021: Carey Williams’ ambitious attempt to adapt star-crossed lovers to Instagram feels awkward and instantly datedElizabeth Weitzman | January 30, 2021 @ 8:42 PM Last Updated: January 30, 2021 @ 9:17 PM
Charles Murphy/Sundance Institute
If every generation gets the “Romeo and Juliet” it deserves, well, Gen Z may need to wait a little longer for theirs. It probably won’t be Sundance entry “R#J,” which is so intently of-the-moment it almost feels dated before the credits roll.
For his first feature, director Carey Williams uses Screenlife in which the entire story unfolds on devices to retell Shakespeare’s timeless tale, with a few notable twists. This time, Romeo and Juliet fall in love while DMing each other emojis and gifs from “The Office.” Purists need not apply, of course, but that’s OK: the Bard can stand up to interpretations from any era. Then again, where’s the