Looking for Alibrandi

For 17 years of her life, Josephine Alibrandi had been caught in the middle of two societies. She had always been trapped between two distinctly different cultural worlds and these cultural dissimilarities became more of a problem when she reached high school. From the beginning of the novel it is evident that Josie wants to fit in at her school but feels she can’t because she is Italian. Josie struggles to be part of the world that John Barton and Ivy Lloyd represent: wealth, prestige and social acceptance. Josie resents the fact that she is Italian and feels that her culture is her one drawback, restraining her from social acceptance and approval. “I felt disadvantaged from the beginning…caught up in the middle of two societies.” Pg 7

Josie’s greatest challenge, though, is with her grandmother, Nonna Katia, as she is unable to understand her Italian rules and regulations and the fact that the way of life between the two of them is so different. “…having to se

e my grandmother every afternoon drives me absolutely insane.” Pg 33

“This may be where I come from but do I really belong here?”

From here on in the film, the viewers can notice Josie’s gradually changing attitude toward not only her Nonna but also her culture, through Kate Woods’ use of music, camera techniques and the way she portrays Josie.

Kate Woods uses comic exaggeration to show how Josie feels. This is especially shown in the scene where Josie is on her way to Nonna’s after school and is describing the notorious Italian Spy Ring. The viewers see glimpses of disguised people spying on Josie and taking photos of her with things from a brooch to a walking frame. Although, in reality, this would be very unlikely as it would more suited to a James Bond movie, this comic exaggeration helps make Josie’s feelings more apparent and clear.

Kate Woods portrays Josie’s attitude to being a second generation Australian in a closely-knit Italian community very similarly to the original image that was set by Melina Marchetta. Kate Woods takes Melina Marchetta’s representation of Josie and successfully transforms her into a visual character. In turning the novel ‘Looking for Alibrandi’ into a film, it was obvious that it would be difficult to maintain the same storyline and convey the same messages as a film cannot go into as much depth as a novel, however Melina Marchetta’s initial message was still put across to the audience clearly and effectively. While some significant events from the novel were overlooked in the film, the basic message was still conveyed well. Although the novel raised many important issues and consisted of many key events, Kate Woods was unable to include them all but briefly covered them and focussed more on the most important ideas. Kate Woods’ interpretation and presentation of the film was effective in the way

Some topics in this essay:
Kate Woods, Tomato Day, Kate Woods’, Melina Marchetta’s, Ivy Lloyd, Nonna Katia, Melina Marchetta, Michael Andretti, John Barton, Josephine Alibrandi, kate woods, tomato day, changing attitude, closely-knit italian community, italian community, generation australian, australian closely-knit italian, generation australian closely-knit, australian closely-knit, closely-knit italian, josie begins, josie’s changing attitude, melina marchetta, attitude generation australian, attitude generation,