LOOKING FOR ALIBRANDI
Australia, 2000, 103 minutes, Colour.
Greta Scacchi, Anthony La Paglia, Elena Cotta, Kerry Walker, Pia Miranda, Kick Garry, Matthew Newton.
Directed by Kate Wood.
Looking for Alibrandi is based on the very popular novel about adolescence by Melina Marchetta. She also adapted the novel for the screen.
The film won the award for best film at the Australian Film Institute Awards. Pia Miranda and Greta Scacchi both won acting awards. Pia Miranda's performance is very striking, not only her performance but also the quality and intonations and meaning of her continued voice-over during the film.
The film focuses on Italians in Australia, three generations. It shows Italian customs, gathering, delight in food - as well as strict moral standards and reporting back to family authorities if there is a sense of a transgression. Josie, Pia Miranda, is rebelling against this. She is the only daughter of a single mother, played with sympathy by Greta Scacchi. The father is unknown - but is soon guessed when a lawyer comes back from Adelaide to Sydney and it is obvious that he is the father. He is played by Anthony La Paglia. Elena Cotta is the dominating grandmother with some secrets of her own which make a difference to her continued saying that there is a curse on her daughters.
Kerry Walker is very sympathetic as a credible contemporary nun and teacher. Matthew Newton in an early role is a golden-haired young man who commits suicide. Kick Garry is the sympathetic boy from across the tracks.
The film is often exuberant, sometimes very sad, tracing the experiences and uncertainties of a very determined young girl. Comparisons might be made with Kathy Randall's film Hey, Hey, It's Esther Blueberger with Danielle Catanzariti, Keisha Castle -Hughes and Toni Collette.
1.The film's awards? Popular in Australia? The Australian spirit and atmosphere?
2.The Italians, their stories, background in Sicily, the isolating experience of World War Two, internment? Arranged marriages? Language difficulties, customs, food, singing, gatherings? Gossiping and reporting? The Australian experience of Italians? The suitability of the main cast for these roles?
3.Sydney, the homes, workplaces, school, the opera house, the harbour, the bridge? The atmosphere of Sydney? The musical score, songs?
4.Josie's voice-over, strong and shrewd, ambitious, her hopes, resentments, imagining her future in fantasies, especially as the wife of John Barton and being Attorney-General?
5.Katia and the Alibrandi curse, as applied to Christina, to Josie? The truth about Katia's behaviour, breaking the curse?
6.The portrait of Josie, her age, the three generations of women, the absent father, at home with her mother, the regular visits to her grandmother, her analysing her mother, at school, Sister Louise, her smart talk, the interview with Sister, her being vice-captain, the scholarship? The boys coming to the school, her crush on John Barton? The speech competition, Jacob and his manner, his speech? Her going to the dance, the dress, John not asking her to dance, dancing with Jacob, talking with John afterwards? Her meeting Michael, her reaction, at the gathering, resenting him, being rude to him? The lift with Jacob? Her walking away from her father? The sudden impact of John Barton's suicide, at the funeral? Her exams and diligence? Her grandmother and the photo albums, the talk about Marcus? With her father, hitting the girl with the science book and breaking her nose, her strong stand, Michael coming to her rescue? The bonding? Going out with Jacob, the movie, leaving him? To his home, the sexual advances, her decision to leave? Her relying on her girlfriends and their discussing everything? The finale, inviting the girls in, the whole Italian gathering, everybody dancing? Her future?
7.Christina and her story, her secret, raising Josie, exasperated with her mother, the Italian traditions? The back-story about Michael, in love with him, the car? His going away? Her concern about Josie, Jacob and his rough manner? Her going out with the doctor? The truth about her mother, the effect, relief?
8.Katia, stern, saying her prayers, fussing, gossip and everybody reporting back, the curse? Her relating to Christina? Taking out her own frustrations on her daughter? Josie, the photo albums? Her relationship with Marcus, with her brutal husband? Not going with Marcus? Josie realising the truth, the dates of her mother's birth, the story? Her grandmother saying she did penance by staying with her husband?
9.Michael, not knowing he had a daughter, the return, his success, meeting Christina, discovering Josie? Meeting her, her antagonism, her calling him for help? The bonding, the outings? Meeting Jacob and giving him a lift? A future?
10.John Barton, the golden boy, his senator father, political expectations, his friendship with Josie, the captain of the school, in the debating team, not dancing, his feeling pressure from his parents, his sudden death, the note to Josie and her reading it and tearing it up?
11.Jacob, the contrast, the public school, the casual speech but effective, his manner, dress, his father, going out with Josie, the films, her walking away, at home, the sexual encounter - and Josie leaving? The reconciliation at the end?
12.Josie's girlfriends, the chatter, their support of her?
13.The snobbish girl, the model, her taunts, Josie bashing her with the book, her father and his outspoken words, Michael coming, threatening him with his racism on radio, the settlement of the case?
14.Sister Louise, the contemporary nun, her dress, manner, in class, interacting with Josie, the scholarship, knowing what was going on? Her being at the funeral and trying to support Josie?
15.The Catholic subtext, Italian Australians, faith, piety - moral sense, surface or deep?
16.An insightful film about a teenage girl? Issues, challenges, maturing?
