March 25, 1997
St Kilda

Saw Romeo + Juliet last night. It reeked of all the hallmarks of a Baz Lurhman film, but god it was good. It was one of those films which can make a lump rise in my throat and the hair stand at the nape of my neck. Something that the play itself always should have done, but never did.

Two stunning young people abundant with possibility and opportunity. Two beautiful, calm, smooth, shiny, serene people. Standing separate, yet entirely central to the violent backdrop of civil brawling that sets the scene for the story.

The beauty of the attraction and union of R+J juxtaposed with the frenzied anger of the rest of the film, made my heart beat fast and the breath catch in the back of my throat. For me it brings to the fore Donna Tartt's "The Secret History", and the writings of Milan Kundera when I think about such beauty juxtaposed with such horror. The phrase "True beauty is nothing without accompanying imperfection, and perfect beauty is terror." (The Secret History, Donna Tartt) The breathless, (dare I say it) innocent beauty is like a trick, when you know all the time that their beauty and frailty is brought to the fore by the undeniable violence and anger.

Like in "A Clockwork Orange", The music of Bethoven was never more beautiful and scary than when associated with mindless ultra violence.

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