LOOKING FOR ALIBRANDI

Film
As you watch the film, you are to make notes about the attitudes and expectations of Josie,
her mother Christine, her grandmother Nonna Katia, before, during and after the process of
change.

Josie Alibrandi

Christina
Alibrandi
Nonna Katia

Attitude before the

change
Embarrassed about
being Italian and of
her culture calls
Tomato Day
National Wog Day.

During the change

After the change

Going out with Jacob

Coote forces Josie to
bring up her culture.
She talks about her
dress being an
heirloom, and he has
to meet her mother.

Josie is proud of being Italian

and accepting of her culture.
She invites Jacob and her
friends in to experience
Tomato Day.

Josie believes her

family is cursed
because of her
mother having her
when she was 17.

Meeting her father and

also finding out that
Marcus Sandford was
her biological
grandfather helps Josie
understand that she
isnt cursed.

Josie believes that her family

is blessed and she is loved
by two of the strongest
women in the world.

Josie feels very

confident about
where she is going
and what she is
going to do. She
feels very
empowered.

Josie has to re-assess

her priorities when John
Barton commits suicide:
If John Barton couldnt
be all right, no ones
going to be all right.

Josie isnt sure where she is

going, but she accepts this
uncertainty in terms of her
future. She is not in such a
hurry, and will wait.

LOOKING FOR ALIBRANDI

When you are finished watching the film, discuss with your friends and record how Josie
was before, during and after the change. What film techniques were used to help convey
these ideas.
Josie Alibrandi

Film techniques
used

Before
Embarrassed about
being Italian and of
her culture calls
Tomato Day National
Wog Day.

During
Going out with Jacob
Coote forces Josie to bring
up her culture. She talks
about her dress being an
heirloom, and he has to
meet her mother.
Close-up - Josie
Costuming Josies red
eye-roll.
dress is considered to be
Body language
an heirloom. She uses
slouched in chair.
pride in her cultural
Diagetic music
tradition as a reason for
Josie changes it from respect. Nonna made the
Italian music to
dress.
contemporary rock.

Josie Alibrandi

Josie believes her

family is cursed
because of her
mother having her
when she was 17.

Film techniques
used

Symbolism Saint
on postcard is
beheaded.

After
Josie is proud of being
Italian and accepting of
her culture. She invites
Jacob and her friends
in to experience
Tomato Day.
Low-angle shot
Nonna is explaining
her history, she looks
like an elder who
deserves Josies
respect.
Diagetic music and
body language
Josie puts on the
Italian music and
dances with Nonna.
Meeting her father and also Josie believes that her
finding out that Marcus
family is blessed and
Sandford was her
she is loved by two of
biological grandfather helps the strongest women in
Josie understand that she the world.
isnt cursed.
High-angle shot Josie
Narration / voice-over
sees Nonna is vulnerable
Josie reveals her
and feels empathy for her. belief: I am loved by
She helps her pick up the two of the strongest
photos.
women in the world.
Mid-shot Josie and
Michael Andretti in coffee
shop; the profiles show
they are similar.

Josie Alibrandi

Film techniques
used

Josie feels very

confident about
where she is going
and what she is
going to do. She
feels very
empowered.
Low-angle shot as
Josie is in the car,
makes her look
powerful.
Diagetic sound
Josies screams in
excitement, showing
her confidence.
Dialogue
- Im moving out of
Little Sicily .. Im
going places
shows her
confidence.

Josie has to re-assess her

priorities when John Barton
commits suicide: If John
Barton couldnt be all right,
no ones going to be all
right.

Josie isnt sure where

she is going, but she
accepts this
uncertainty in terms of
her future. She is not in
such a hurry, and will
wait.
Event in plot Josie
Dialogue Christina
accepts her father. In fact, says that Josie is
she is able to stay in the
going to wait and see
same room with him
what she gets (in the
without fighting. She stays HSC) before she
in his apartment and gets
makes any decisions.
to know more about him.
Josie is not in such a
Metaphor Josie releases hurry.
John Bartons soul and
Repetition in
gives him the freedom he
dialogue Josie
craved, and is part of her
repeats I dont know if
re-assessing priorities.
Jacob and I are going
to stay together I
dont know what
showing her
uncertainty.