A R C H I E F1 9 9 8  
16th
  Jordi Moragues
Una nit / One Night
  Spain 1997
Videotape, 26:14, colour, stereo
 
"Two households, both alike in dignity" begins William Shakespeare's world-famous tragedy 'Romeo and Juliet', written more than four-hundred years ago. Could Shakespeare ever have imagined that in a twentieth century version of his story the two rival families would be represented by two commercial products, (Always) Coca-Cola and Pepsi (The choice of a new generation)? In Moragues' computer-animated film an impossible love affair flares up between a Pepsi bottle and a Coca-Cola bottle, personifying, respectively, Romeo and Juliet. The love tragedy does not take place in idyllic Verona, but in a perfectly ordinary supermarket. When the owner closes up shop, the products come to life. With clever and highly witty animations the computer artist Moragues shows us that he is a true professional in using the software and that he also understands the art of fantasy. All the exciting, romantic, comic, but also especially the tragic elements from the original story are present in this exceptional twentieth century 'remake'. It starts at a party. The Coca-Cola bottle/Juliet attracts the attention of the Pepsi bottle/Romeo. And although Pepsi/Romeo regrets the fact that Juliet carries the name Coca-Cola, it is love at first sight. (Juliet: "My only love sprung from my only hate.") As most of us know, the hostile families are against the liaison and it leads to heavy conflict. Unhappiness and misunderstanding are eventually fatal to the lovers. With appropriate music by (among others) Bj?rk, Beethoven and Peter Gabriel, 'Una Nit' is a wonderful melodrama. Moragues has made a daring and successful interpretation of Shakespeare's original story.

– Marieke van Hal

Camera: Pedro Ballesteros, Light: Pere Freixa, Sound: Perfecto Herrera, Mikel Azpiroz, With: Armand López, Production: Jordi Moragues/I.U.A. Pompeu Fabra University

Jordi Moragues ° 1969, Barcelona (Spain)
Lives and works in Cologne (Brd)


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