West Side Story

Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise, US, 1961, 152 minutes

No matter how cynical a person can be about the musical genre, there is definitely more to be said about West Side Story.

A modern retelling of the timeless story of Romeo & Juliet at its most obvious level but beyond this is a modern critique of the American dream, teenage delinquency and gang warfare. The lyrics by Steven Sondheim encapsulate the themes of the plot in a way that put it in the genre of satirical drama to underline the tragedy behind those who get left behind. The dance sequences are what most people are attracted to in the film and is what gathered most of its praise as it elegantly conveys the conflicts through ballet in a way that hadn’t been seen on film before.

The opening scene is shot on the streets of New York and convey street life as a world without the guidance of adults and essentially of the divisions created by society by leaving the unprepared teenagers to try and do what they can to control their situation.

The only adults we see are the police officer, district attorney and Doc, the proprietor of the neighbourhood hangout. We quickly establish that parents are what is needed not the bigoted arm of the law. By the time the fatherly concern and wisdom of Doc tries to make an entrance the damage has been done and tragedy is left to fate.

Review by Mirella Yandoli
Written for EUFS Programme Spring 2009