Looking_for_Alabrandi

Looking for Alabrandi Contemporary film makers use a number of techniques to explore the theme of the universal human condition, often relying on representations of culture to convey meaning quickly. While written text has the advantage of being able to contextualise theme in great detail, the film maker is in many ways dependent on visual and auditory cues. Looking for Alabrandi is based on the novel of the same name by Melina Marchetta who also co-wrote the script. This is a heart-felt, intelligent and gently humorous coming-of-age story exploring themes such as the search for identity and belonging. The film is set in Sydney in the 1990's and revolves around the second-generation migrant experience of Josie. Josie was raised in an Italian single family, while attending the prestigious St Martha's High School on a scholarship. During this year long snapshot of her life she must cope with both the realities of life and of growing up. She confronts a number of issues such as ethnicity and racism, class divisions, suicide, illegitimacy and love. In one of the early scenes from the movie, Josie is seen walking up to her school while wealthier students arrive in expensive cars. Josie provides a voice over which explains her feelings of not belonging, and of the ways cultural and class differences affect her. The voiceover technique is used to create an intimacy between the viewer and Josie, by revealing her innermost thoughts and feelings. This technique is used throughout the film, often adding humour in a modern and realistic way. Josie's voiceovers also provide a uniquely teenage slant on youthful angst, revealing the pain and happiness that comes with growing up. In this first scene at St Martha's, Josie discusses her circumstances and those of her friends contrasting them with those of the other 'popular' students from privileged backgrounds. St Martha's appears uninviting as the colours dominating this sequence are cold whites and blues. Josie's backyard in contrast, appears much more inviting in its warm reds and yellows. Her rival, student Carly Bishop is introduced and the film creates a scene that is obviously a fantasy of Josie's where she is an adored and famous model. This fantasy provides a strong contrast to the real difficulties (both internal and external) she must contend with at the school. This use of freeze frames and flash forwarding depicts Josie's colourful imagination and is a technique used a number of times in the film that adds both humour and drama to the story. It enhances Josie’s narration of events throughout the film. The scene in which Josie learns of her friend John's suicide is powerfully conveyed. The letter John had previously written is seen for what it really was: a suicide note. His despair at wanting to be anything other than what he was; to be 'free' was clearly conveyed.. The cinematic use of a letter allowed the audience to understand John's torment in a succinct way. When the crane-mounted camera pulled back, the audience actually saw John set free. Tearing up the letter told the audience that Josie wouldn't follow John towards suicide when things are difficult. John's suicide reflected a major theme of the movie, and that was of how essential a sense of belonging is, especially to the young. This theme is carried through to the conclusion of the movie. Josie talks directly to the viewer, clearly accepting that she does belong with her family and that no matter what happens next in her life, all will be well. She has come to terms with past and thus with her own identity. She acknowledges that what is important is "who I feel I am". She has finally 'found Alibrandi'. This film portrayed youth and migrant culture in an honest and revealing way. It employed various cinematic techniques, such as music, freeze frame, colour, and voiceovers to enhance the storytelling and to assist in bringing the themes of adolescent belonging and identity to life.