The Aeneid is Virgil’s poem that depicts Aeneas’ journey. The Trojan has traveled to Italy, encountering romantic dramas, adventures, and problems on the way. A significant aspect of the epic poem is the love story between Aeneas and Dido. Moreover, the lovers’ first encounter is what subsequently caused them to fall in love and for Dido to end her life in suffering. The scene will be filmed to emphasize the initial emotions and impressions that the future lovers feel about each other. Moreover, it will highlight the initial reason for Aeneas and Dido to take a liking to each other, illustrating that both characters have been through a lot of suffering.
Cast
The actor who can portray Aeneas is Theo James. He fits the description of a god-like man with a youthful glow in his eyes (Puchner 68). James would perfectly illustrate a hero physically and emotionally based on his previous role in the Divergent series. Moreover, Shailene Woodley would depict Dido, a beautiful queen who has lost her beloved husband (Puchner 61). The two actors performed together in the Divergent series, where they were able to recreate a believable and emotional love story through depicting the chemistry and passion between the two characters.
Directions
Woodley has to portray beauty and suffering at the same time. Dido is a character that has been through trauma due to her husband’s death. The female lead needs to have a sense of sadness and sorrow in how she talks, behaves, and acts. Moreover, James would need to balance between confidence and reason. Aeneas is a hero, yet his people consider him a fair ruler. The actor should avoid making Aeneas a one-dimensional character by adding depth through certain lines and expressions.
Original Source
The original source is a poem, so the lines would be rewritten according to movie standards. While poetry in a film may be an innovative and modern idea, a standard script would minimize the theatrical aspect and create a more believable atmosphere in this setting. The lines would not be rearranged, and the main premise would not be changed. There is, however, a need for modernized language since there will be a modern setting. Certain archaisms will be replaced with newer, more comprehensive terms.
Non-verbal Acting
The leads will use certain gestures and expressions to add depth and dimension to the scene. As Dido meets Aeneas for the first time, she has a regal and confident aura about her, which can be externalized by how the actress walks, holds herself, and looks at the main hero. Moreover, Aeneas, portrayed by James, needs to show attraction and instant chemistry through how he looks at Dido. Such non-verbal cues will have the role of introducing the love story and the tragedy that will follow. Moreover, the first encounter still has to be relatively non-invasive. Since love is not the first emotion the characters feel, the attraction has to be subtle.
Setting/Costumes
As mentioned before, the setting has to be modern. Yet, it is essential to remain somewhat loyal to the source. In this case, the female encounters the hero for the first time. A modern setting can be portrayed through a scenario that depicts a good Samaritan escaping danger. The war scenario may still be a part of the movie. The hero has been in battle, and a kind female provides shelter for the soldier to rest and attend to his wounds. The war symbol is still persistent in this setting, yet a modern twist gives the plot a new atmosphere.
Just as in the epic poem, the film will show the same power dynamics, situations, and events yet in a modernized situation. A love story between an American soldier and a foreign woman during a war would perfectly highlight the romantic theme of the poem. The movie can be shot in any location that resembles the Middle East and countries where American troops are currently settled (Afghanistan, Iraq, etc.).The costumes would also depict the location of the event. The female character will wear clothing that resembles the appropriate ethnic dressing of a higher class person from the region where the action occurs. Moreover, the male lead will wear a military uniform of a high superior since, in the movie, he also holds a high rank.
Camera Work
The action revolves around the lead characters. Since non-verbal language will be used during the first dialogue, the camera has to catch the slightest gestures and expressions. To build more suspension, the initial conversation would start with a shot that would increasingly come closer to the actors as the dialogue progresses and they have more attraction to each other. Moreover, as the male lead tells Dido about his journey, the camera may focus on the actress’s face, portraying a sense of empathy and understanding towards Aeneas. As the characters see how similar their sufferings are, a shot of both of them in the same frame would emphasize the mutual drama they have encountered separately.
Lightning
Dim lightning would adequately show how desperate and hurt both characters are. However, as Aeneas begins talking, the light can increasingly become brighter since Dido learns about all the adventures he has been through and what kind of person he is. The initial confusion will be depicted with a dimmer light, and as the characters grow each other, the lighting will highlight it by clearly showing the surroundings and the characters’ faces.
Conclusion
Virgil’s poem The Aeneid portrays multiple adventures, including the romance between Aeneas and Dido. A movie based on their relationship would highlight a wide range of emotions, from attraction and passion to suffering and drama. However, the scene when they first encounter each other will externalize that the characters are alike in many aspects. Their similarities regarding the unfortunate events that happened prior to their meetings bring them together in a beautiful yet disastrous closeness. This closeness will be depicted in the scene where Dido meets Aeneas and listens to his story.
Work Cited
Puchner, Martin. “The Aeneid.” The Norton Anthology World Literature, vol. 2, 4th ed., W.W. Norton, 2019, pp. 477-576.