Zeffirelli approached the cinematic adaptation of "Romeo and Juliet" with the same spirit that had inspired his theatrical production, which had been met with enormous success just a few years earlier. Shakespeare's tragedy had already been brought to the screen multiple times, always in a theatrical manner, respectfully declaimed by established, and therefore adult, actors.
Zeffirelli was the first to break away from this convention, aiming to create a popular film for a young audience. Convinced that the story of the young lovers from Verona could still move and resonate with the youth of 1968, he boldly chose to present the original text without modernizing it, maintaining its Renaissance setting. However, he directed the actors in a completely contemporary style, selecting very young and unknown protagonists with whom teenagers could easily identify.
The gamble paid off: "Romeo and Juliet" achieved worldwide success, earning numerous awards, including two Oscars. To this day, it is still regarded as the best among the many film adaptations of the story that have followed.