When Juliet and The King, an animated film, blends a traditional Disney-style fairy tale with 19th-century Iran as its backdrop, the result is a compelling examination of cultural contrast. Set in the latter half of that century, this story offers writer-director Ashkan Rahgozar’s interpretation of how Persian society once viewed the world. While times have certainly evolved, the themes explored remain relevant and thought-provoking.
At the heart of this tale is Juliet (credited as Ghazal Shakeri according to the IMDB; English actress unknown), a young performer who captures the heart of Naser al-Din Shah (Behzad Omrani). He’s a well-traveled, art-appreciating ruler. After attending to royal duties by day, he frequents the theater at night. It’s during one such outing that he meets Juliet and becomes smitten. He soon persuades her to bring their production of Romeo and Juliet to Tehran. However, the replacement of some roles with local talent might mean that not everyone in the court understands the message of Shakespeare’s tragic romance.
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