Away_Little_Miss_Sunshine

Question 2 People have distinctive problems and therefore have distinctive journeys towards reconciliation. Within the play “Away” by Michael Gow and the trailer of the movie “Little Miss Sunshine” different journeys are undergone to reach the stage of reconciliation. In “Away” we see strained relationships of 3 different families who each find a path towards reconciliation. On the other hand, within the trailer of “Little Miss Sunshine” we see the troubles of each member of the Hoover family try and reconcile with themselves and each other. The concept of reconciliation is communicated through various film and dramatic techniques, e.g. setting and characterization in “Away” and colour and dialogue in “Little Miss Sunshine”. Firstly, within the trailer of the film “Little Miss Sunshine” a wide range of film techniques are used to convey the message of reconciliation to the audience. One aural technique used to great effect is the changing tone in dialogue. At the beginning of the trailer, when the characters are argumentative towards each other and show each other a lack of respect, the tone of voice in each of the characters (especially male characters) is fairly angry and abusive. An example of this is when Edwin calls Frank a “homo” and questions Dwayne about his sexuality (who himself has taken a vow of silence). This shows that each character has distinctive values and morals and require different journeys towards reconciliation. As the trailer goes on and the characters continue on their distinctive roads to reconciliation, we begin to see a change in tone within dialogue of each character. A more caring and positive tone begins to show within their voices as they begin to realise and mend their different problems. For example, we begin to see Edwin’s softer side as he shows his love for his granddaughter Olive and towards the end of the movie Dwayne reconciles with himself and the family by breaking his vow of silence. Although the director literally sends the family along the same road to the same destination, figuratively each character is finding their own paths to solve their own problems and achieve reconciliation. Secondly, within the “Little Miss Sunshine” trailer another film technique which is used to show the distinct journeys taken by each family member towards reconciliation is the use of music. At the beginning of the trailer, the music being played in the background resembles the attitudes of the characters. This song is a fast paced, rushed and repetitive song, similar to the characters lives. As well as this the lyrics in the song include the repetition of “yea yea yea yea” showing the I don’t care or blah blah kind of attitude of each character at the beginning of their journeys. During the second half of the trailer when the characters begin to realise each other’s distinct journeys to reach reconciliation the song “Chicago” by Sufjan Stevens is played. The addition of this song by the director gives the audience the knowledge that growth is taking place. This is reinforced within the lyrics of the song which say “We have a mindset, you had to find it, all things grow”. This is a true indication that each individual family member must find their own path and grow to attain reconciliation. On the other hand, in the play “Away” by Michael Gow, a vast array of dramatic techniques are used to show people have distinct problems and go through distinctive journeys towards reconciliation. To begin Gow uses the technique of setting similar to “Little Miss Sunshine” to send the message of distinctive journeys toward reconciliation to the audience. An example of this is the way in which 3 separate families each struggling with strained relationships, all go away on a holiday. These families end up at the same beach hit by a storm. We then see the coming together of the people who have been torn apart by their own doing or by circumstances. This literal use of setting gives the figurative meaning of 3 families on separate distinctive journeys all came together to attain reconciliation. As well as the use of setting, Gow intelligently uses symbolism to portray his key ideas on distinctive journeys toward reconciliation. An example of the symbolism used by Gow is through the way in which the families go away on holiday. This is often seen as a time of renewal and in this case to seek journeys toward reconciliation. As well as this nature is seen as a symbol for healing and reconciling in the play. An example of this is the use of fire and the storm. These natural elements of fire and water symbolise the cleansing and burning away of internal problems which is what each character was going through on their journeys. One particular example of symbolism and nature used to expose one journey is the structural link of the sea in Roy and Coral’s journey to reconciliation. It appears in Coral’s name and within the song “Pearly Shells sung by the MC. One line in this song says “when I see them, my heart tells me that I love you”. This is demonstrated in Scene 1 of the final act when the gesture of running shells through her fingers shows Roy and Coral’s reconciliation. Overall in both texts we see how distinctive problems require distinctive journeys toward reconciliation. We see in the play through various dramatic techniques like the use of setting and symbolism how the families all follow their separate journeys but end up with the result of reconciliation as well as in the “Little Miss Sunshine” trailer with the use of film techniques how the same road is followed literally to help each member of the family reconcile their individual differences. Through this the statement “People have distinctive problems therefore have distinctive journeys towards reconciliation” is reinforced.