Sometimes to fit in you need to stand out
Keisha Castle-Hughes Danielle Catanzariti VcY Toni Collette
A STUDY GUIDE by emily chen
http://www.metromagazine.com.au
http://www.theeducationshop.com.au
www.estherblueburger.com Introduction Film Synopsis Esther is not like other girls; she Hey Hey it’s Esther Blueburger befriends a duck, talks to God is a smart, rueful and dead-on through the toilet and break- portrait of life’s unending dances at her Bat-Mitzvah. quest to fit in … and the girl Her all-girls private school is a who solves it by completely daily torment of mind-numbing breaking out. Esther Blueburger conformity and bell-ringing is seeking something far rituals. Home is a pressure more ambitious, essential and cooker driven by her mother exhilarating – to defy the chaos, Grace’s demand for perfection unfairness and absurdity of the and normality. But life changes world with her irresistible and when Esther meets Sunni and indestructible urge to be herself. her mother Mary. She learns Esther Blueburger’s (Danielle that it’s okay to be different and Catanzariti) quest begins being true to yourself is more when she escapes from her important than fitting in. own Bat-Mitzvah party and is Hey Hey it’s Esther Blueburger befriended by Sunni (Keisha is a Tama Films production, Castle-Hughes), the effortlessly produced by Miriam Stein. The cool girl who is everything film was written and directed by Esther thinks she wants to be. debut filmmaker Cathy Randall. With the help of Sunni, Esther
Hey Hey it’s Esther Blueburger is a coming-of-age comedy that explores what it’s like to be an outsider in your own world.
SCREEN EDUCATION 2 goes AWOL from her ordinary reject, Esther dives boldly life – secretly busting out of into sexual experimentation. her cold, repressive private Once the angelic daughter, school to clandestinely attend Esther defiantly shakes up her Sunni’s edgy, forbidden public bewildered family. school as a Swedish exchange But when one of Esther’s student. enough role models for teenage two very disparate worlds is girls. I wanted Esther to be Esther also leaves behind her suddenly shattered, she must someone who achieves great blithely malfunctioning nuclear find a way to bring together things but is also fallible and family – her flummoxed mother all the conflicting dualities of makes big mistakes.2 Grace Blueburger (Essie her life – public and private, Davis), her sentimental father real and fantastical, ugly and Cathy Randall was awarded Osmond Blueburger (Russell beautiful, the desire to be cool a scholarship to the Los Dykstra) and her mad genius and the need to be loved – Angeles Film School’s Feature twin brother Jacob Blueburger while finally and fully embracing Development Program based (Christian Byers) – to hang out the wonderful weirdness and on her screenplay Hey Hey it’s with Sunni’s far breezier and ecstatic bliss of being Esther Esther Blueburger. She spent super-hip single mom Mary Blueburger.1 a year developing the project with Hollywood professionals. (Toni Collette). The Production Team The screenplay then received an Esther embraces her mas- Cathy Randall Writer/Director Australian Writer’s Guild AWGIE querade and enthusiastically award nomination for best crosses over into an alternate, I always wanted to make a film un-produced screenplay. Before new world in which everything about a kick-ass chick, a heroine writing films, Cathy worked as a in her life has become for teenagers and people of all journalist in Sydney. reversed. Once bullied, Esther ages. I have always been struck is now in charge. Once the by the fact that there are not
SCREEN EDUCATION 3 Miriam Stein Producer and cry, and it was a movie I would pay money to see. It Miriam Stein set up Tama took me back to that time in my Films as an entertainment and own life when I so desperately media company focused on wanted to be seen, understood developing, producing and and accepted. As an adult I still marketing feature films and strongly connect to Esther’s The Cast media content for local and story and those feelings.3 international markets. Hey Hey Danielle Catanzariti (Esther it’s Esther Blueburger is the Miriam is one of Australia’s most Blueburger) company’s first feature film. highly regarded producers, She walked in and it was love at having worked prolifically on Miriam describes how Esther’s first sight. I knew instantly she television commercials, theatre valiant, adventurous struggle was Esther … she possessed productions, for Network to meet the world on her own an utterly iconoclastic mix of Ten, Cation Creative and for oddball terms really hit home. charm, goofiness and honesty advertising agency J. Walter that was a dead match for ‘The script resonated with me Thompson (now known as Esther.4 from the start,’ she recalls:. JWT). She has also produced The title role of Esther in Hey As a Jewish woman whose a number of short films. Miriam Hey it’s Esther Blueburger name used to be Miriam Stein has served as Policy is Danielle Catanzariti’s first Grunberg, then at fourteen years Officer for The Australian feature film role. Casting changed to Stein, and who went Screen Directors Association, directors were quick to to three different schools often Screen Producers Association see Danielle’s talent and feeling like an outsider, there of Australia and The SPAA/ immediately cast her in her was no way I was not making ASDA Documentary Council. next film, Elise (James Bogle, this film. More than any script 2008) starring opposite Natalie I had read, it made me laugh Imbruglia. Danielle is now being touted as one of Australia’s hottest young ‘up and coming’ film actors.
SCREEN EDUCATION 4 Following the completion of Keisha is a beautiful soul and Hey Hey it’s Esther Blueburger, a joy to work with. She’s an Danielle was cast in the instinctive actress and she prestigious Sydney Theatre was an inspiration to the Company production of other, less experienced kids. Blackbird. Danielle was hand Her Sunni becomes a kind of picked by Cate Blanchett, who every-man voice. When Sunni Actress), About A Boy (Chris is director of the play. judges Esther, so too does the Weitz & Paul Weitz, 2002) audience …5 (nominated for a BAFTA), Keisha Castle-Hughes (Sunni) Changing Lanes (Roger Toni Collette (Mary) Keisha Castle-Hughes made Michell, 2002), Dirty Deeds her film debut as ‘Paikea’ in Niki I fell in love with Esther’s plight (Barry Caesar, 2002), The Caro’s Whale Rider (2002). Her and her story and her quirks and Hours (Stephen Daldry, 2002), portrayal of Paikea earned her I just found it all very emotional. Japanese Story (Sue Brooks, international acclaim and a Best I am often drawn to themes 2003) (AFI Award for Best Actress Oscar® nomination in where people have to find Actress), Connie and Carla 2003. She won Broadcast Film themselves, where they start (Michael Lembeck, 2004), In Her Critics, Chicago Film Critics, NZ off slightly off kilter and learn Shoes (Curtis Hanson, 2005), Film & TV, Online Film Critics that they can well and truly be Like Minds (Gregory J. Read, and the Young Artist awards themselves.6 for Whale Rider. Keisha Castle- Renowned for the range and Hughes was ‘Queen Naboo’ depth of her performances, Toni in George Lucas’ Star Wars: Collette is a highly respected Episode III – Revenge of the Australian actor. For her Sith (2005) and portrayed Mary poignant performance in The Nativity Story (Catherine in Muriel’s Wedding (P.J. Hardwicke, 2006). Hogan, 1994) she received Randall was thrilled at the an Australian Film Institute chance to work with Keisha, Award (AFI) and a Golden especially in a role that could Globe nomination for Best really use her unusual maturity Actress. She has shone in and gritty strength to full myriad feature films such advantage, as Sunni goes as The Sixth Sense (M. from being an idol to being Night Shyamalan, 1999), Shaft heartbroken, and, in a twist of (John Singleton, 2000), For fate, ultimately ends up in the The Boys (Mark Rydell, 1991) last place she expected: (AFI Award as Best Supporting
SCREEN EDUCATION 5 2006), Little Miss Sunshine Actress) The Girl with the Pearl (Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Earring (Peter Webber, 2003), Faris, 2006) (Boston Critics Charlotte’s Web (Gary Winick, Award for Best Supporting 2006), Isolation (Billy O’Brien, Actress, BAFTA and Golden 2005), The Matrix Reloaded Globe nominations), The Night (Andy and Larry Wachowski, Listener (Patrick Stettner, 2006), 2003), The Matrix Revolutions Critics’ Matilda Award and a Dead Girl (Karen Moncrieff, (Andy and Larry Wachowski, Victorian Green Room Award 2006), Evening (Lajos Koltai, 2003), Meeting Misty Rain nomination for Best Actor). 2007) and most recently The (Justin Kurzel, 2000), The Sound His recent television credits Black Balloon (Elissa Down, of One Hand Clapping (Richard include BlackJack, Loot, All 2008). She has also starred in Flanagan, 1998) and Code Saints and White Collar Blue. and won numerous awards for 46 (Michael Winterbottom, Russell Dykstra has had feature her roles on Broadway. 2003). Her television credits film roles in Soft Fruit (Christina include Kings in Grass Castles, Andreef, 1999) (AFI Award for Essie Davis (Grace Blueburger) The Ripper, The Silence and Best Actor and was nominated Essie Davis has starred in A Sweeney Todd. for a Film Critics’ Circle of Streetcar Named Desire, at the Australia Award), Romulus, Russell Dykstra (Osmond Royal National Theatre, (Olivier My Father (Richard Roxburgh, Blueburger) Award for Best Supporting 2007), Clubland (Cherie Actress) and Jumpers, for Russell Dyskstra’s stage Nowlan, 2007), Lantana (Ray the Royal National Theatre credits include Stuff Happens Lawrence, 2001), Garage Days in London and later on (Helpmann Award for best (Alex Proyas, 2002), Ned Kelly Broadway, (Olivier Award and supporting actor), Ray’s (Gregor Jordan, 2003), and The a Tony nomination for Best Tempest, The Underpants, Wannabes (Nick Giannopoulos, Performance by a Featured The Laramie Project, The 2003). Actress in a play). Ham Funeral and Children of the Devil (Brisbane Theatre On screen, Essie Davis has had central roles in mini-series After the Deluge, (AFI award in 2003 for Best Supporting
SCREEN EDUCATION 6 Christian Byers (Jacob The film has obvious appeal Blueburger) for lower, middle and upper secondary teachers and Christian Byers played the students as it explores many lead role of ‘Ashmol’ in the universal adolescent issues feature film Opal Dream (Peter and themes. As a ‘coming Cattaneo, 2005). His second of age’ film about a girl, it feature film role was as ‘Spark’ About this Guide will have definite appeal in December Boys (Rod Hardy, This study guide is written for for 12- to 14-year-old girls. 2007). students and teachers of screen Some concepts and themes literacy, media studies and film. are challenging and may be It is also intended for anyone disturbing for younger or who established an emotional sensitive viewers. The film connection with Esther and who contains explicit language, through their own fascination teenage drinking, smoking and feel compelled to think about sexual references. the film further. Hey Hey it’s Esther Blueburger Genre will also attract an audience of parents as it contains powerful Hey Hey it’s Esther Blueburger messages and challenges has been described as a sharp conventional notions of modern comedy about family Audience successful parenting, family and and identity and a fable rife with society. incandescent memories of the I felt this script had so much perils of adolescence.8 potential because it struck me that it would appeal to anyone at all who has ever been thirteen. Teens see themselves in Esther and Sunni, while adults reflect nostalgically with joy and pain about this most vulnerable and formative time of life when everything matters.7 – Miriam Stein
SCREEN EDUCATION 7 Hey Hey it’s Esther Blueburger – they are often located in the is a truly unique Australian household black comedy with lashings – they contain heightened of irony and a slightly skewed ‘problems’ such as sexual way of seeing the world. It also dysfunction, marital contains many classic elements breakdown and alcoholism of melodrama. • Investigate one or more of – many twists and turns of these features of melodrama. ‘Daddy and I have decided to fate, suspense, disaster and Create a timeline showing see a family psychiatrist’ tragedy, last minute rescues how they are portrayed and – Grace and happy endings how they develop in the film. ‘There is something terribly – a search for the ideal and for Examples or still images could wrong with this family’ self-knowledge be used as illustration. – Grace – the process of redemption • Explore the black comedy Melodrama comes from the genre by visiting the Greek word ‘melos’ which – the dichotomy of desire comprehensive wikipedia means music, capturing the versus repression listing at
SCREEN EDUCATION 8 quirky! It is a highly imaginative • Create works of art that and dramatic view of her reality. depict a variety of different Toni Collette describes it as: aesthetics representing pivotal moments in the film. They So unusual and beautiful and might be drawings, paintings, interesting and funny – I think collage or multimedia works. it will appeal to both kids and Mood and Tone adults. You know, a film can be • Some scenes in Hey Hey fun but I think that it is much it’s Esther Blueburger are The moods and tones of the more important to have a heart. absurdist in their style. film are quite idiosyncratic, When it has both, like Esther, it Explore your understanding of whimsical, absurdist and is perfect.10 absurdism through the ‘dinner absolutely adolescent. This with Jacob’ scene and the contributes powerfully to the The style of different scenes scene where Esther talks to resonance of Esther’s story. varies depending on where they God through the toilet. are set and how much power, The soundtrack plays an control and independence • Compare these scenes to important function in setting the Esther has. They reflect absurdist moments from mood and tone for each scene. Esther’s place in her different other films and from absurdist • Play excerpts from each worlds. The aesthetic of the examples of fine art. of the songs on the Rowen Ladies College is • Why do you think that the soundtrack. These are highly ordered, ritualistic, old filmmakers chose to include available from the web site fashioned and traditional. The these scenes? What do they
SCREEN EDUCATION 9 Esther brings quirky comic relief when we think about twins, we to Sunni’s darker moments. assume that they do everything It is Sunni who is faced with together, yet Jacob and Esther the more complex and easily live very different lives. In recognizable life challenges. some ways they are similar, in others different. Jacob acts • How important is this to their as a comparison for Esther, In scenes where Esther and friendship, and what does this representing what she may have the girls are experimenting say about the role of humour become. with sexuality and ‘playing’ in the film and in a wider at being grown up, the adult context? • Watch the scenes with Esther concepts are juxtaposed with and Jacob. (writing to Rowen, Jacob has a dark role as a symbols from childhood. compass dinner, breakfast, troubled and compulsive genius The contrast between their praying) How does the mood who eventually embraces adult and child selves is thus of each scene reflect Jacob’s Jewish orthodoxy. Jacob emphasized. Some examples character? and Esther are twins. Usually worth noting are kissing boys with the taste of cheezels in their braces and making fairybread whilst discussing the absurd importance of losing your virginity before you turn fourteen. • How do these symbols of childhood affect the mood and tone of these scenes? • How do they contribute to the meaning and message underpinning these scenes? (Consider how the meaning and tone would change if they were absent)
SCREEN EDUCATION 10 Contexts are wearing sexually provocative clothing and the magazines Hey Hey it’s Esther Blueburger they are reading focus on is a poignant and thoughtful sexuality. The impact of the film of great relevance in a time communications revolution – when the role and importance of use of mobiles and the internet childhood is being questioned. – is another factor causing children have been termed Concern is raised by parents problems. The end result is ‘bubble wrapped’, that is, they and in the media that in our young people at this stage seem are so overprotected by their increasingly achievement- completely uncontrollable.11 anxious parents that they aren’t based, consumer-driven society, allowed out into the ‘real world’. children are rushing through • Discuss this issue with They are regulated, policed and childhood and growing up too reference to Hey Hey it’s protected. Concern is growing quickly. The film raises many Esther Blueburger. What do that these children grow up less issues discussed by educators, the filmmakers have to say healthy, less resilient, with lower psychologists and parenting about childhood, adolescence self esteem and with fewer experts such as Maggie Dent, and growing up? social connections.12 who, in an interview on ABC • Is childhood sacred? In what radio, commented on the issues ways? Do we as a society facing parents of young girls celebrate childhood? Is and teenagers. it considered sacred and One minute they’re playing with special? their dolls, the next some are • Are children in a rush to grow out on the streets in all sorts of up and become adults? Why? trouble. They want to be adults without the necessary maturity • How can parents help and responsibility and are their children through the doing things that can do them transition from childhood into great harm. This stage of life is adolescence? beginning earlier as many young The current generation of girls seem to skip adolescence Australian, urban, middle-class … It’s a time when young girls
SCREEN EDUCATION 11 • What happens when these Use of the film in children reach adolescence and try and break free of the curriculum their parents’ protection? Hey Hey it’s Esther Blueburger Esther is one of these is most suitable as a film text children, as is ‘The Slug’. for students in lower, middle The film could also be used as a comparative piece in a study of Australian ‘coming of age’ films such as Picnic at Hanging Rock (Peter Weir, 1975), The Getting of Wisdom (Bruce Beresford, 1978), Looking for Alibrandi (Kate Woods, 2000), The December Boys, Romulus, My Father and The Black Balloon. An interesting extension activity would be to look at the portrayal of women in Australian ‘coming of age’ films. What do the films say about the role of young women in Australian society?
In Australia, the Public versus and upper secondary school. Hey Hey it’s Esther Blueburger Private school debate has been Curriculum links can be found comments on the disparity running hot for the past decade. in the areas of English and between private and public The last government pushed Screen Literacy, Health, SOSE, schooling in contemporary for private over public, leaving Studies of Australian Culture Australia using a similar device the public system under-funded and Society, Religion, Media to the ABC series Summer and under-valued. This film may and Film Studies. Heights High. In both, a central be representative of a turning character moves from one point in public opinion about type of school to the other in a public education.
SCREEN EDUCATION 12 ‘social experiment’. As the two Suggestions for analysing texts paint very different views, the film there is a valuable opportunity Three different levels of analysis for students to discuss and or ways of seeing and thinking debate the main differences. It about the film are Narrative, is important to recognize that Character and Theme. neither text is depicting the (the funeral for example) ‘truth’. They are works of fiction Narrative Why don’t we get shown everything? which comment on, exaggerate The film can be looked at purely and satirize a social issue. as a narrative, focusing on the • Comment on the ambiguity, • Draw a table identifying the storyline, the story arc, the plot the use of resolution/ absence similarities and differences and the subplots. of resolution for Esther and Sunni. Does a good story between the two texts. • Identify the introduction and demand a resolution and • Ask students to reflect on orientation of the film. How conclusion of some sort or is what they want in a school. are we introduced to the the absence of resolution a What is important to them and characters, the setting and to poignant statement in itself? what do they most value in a the story? • Are there any examples of school? • What are the problems or films that break with the • What are the widely held dilemmas that motivate the conventional story structure? perceptions of the public/ story? Are they successful? private school divide? • How does the film build up to • Compare Australian films with • To what extent are these the climax or pivotal moments Hollywood blockbusters. Are perceptions accurate? in the story? Australian films more likely • Discuss or debate which film • How do the characters and to take the risk of having an text best reflects schools the story achieve resolution? unconventional structure, to as the students have • How does the story leave things at least partially experienced. conclude? unresolved? (eg. Picnic at Hanging Rock; Muriel’s • What is left out of the story? Wedding.)
SCREEN EDUCATION 13 • Are films without resolutions • How does Esther develop satisfying for the audience? through the film? What changes for her and how does • What are the strengths she change? What realizations in leaving some things does she make about herself, unresolved? her relationships and her Character position in the world? • How does Esther’s relationship with her mother A segmented character analysis • There are a number of scenes change? How does Grace focuses on the personal and in the film that are central change and what does she inter-personal development of to Esther’s development. learn during the film? characters in relation to feelings, They are epiphanies, sudden problems and relationships. intuitive understandings • What is the role of Mary in By taking one character at a about her self and the world Esther’s life? time and placing emphasis on that lead to change. Examine • Why was it important for Mary pivotal scenes, we focus on the these scenes and pay careful to get the job without Esther’s emotional and developmental attention to the cinematic help? How does this influence journey of each character. devices used to emphasize the way we see her death? Hey Hey it’s Esther Blueburger change. Consider the pace, centres on Esther and it is her the scene changes, the point of view that is emphasized merging of dialogue across throughout the film. However it scenes to carry through is Sunni who speaks the mind and connect new ideas, the of the audience, who questions soundtrack, use of lighting, and challenges Esther, who costume, props and dialogue. recognizes and judges her mistakes and who is supportive, generous and forgiving.
SCREEN EDUCATION 14 • What is the role of Osmond, Theme Esther’s father? What does it A thematic study analyses the mean when he gives Esther key messages underlying the his tie? storyline, the themes, ideologies • During the film, Esther and stereotypes. and Jacob become more Key Concepts creating a character that people, independent of each other. old and young, could relate to.13 Why is Esther so angry with The film invites the viewer to – Cathy Randall Jacob for embracing Jewish think about a number of ideas orthodoxy? Why is it so that are of universal significance Esther’s Bat-Mitzvah is a pivotal confronting for the family? for adolescent students. Central scene in the film. It raises to the film are the following questions about coming of • It is Sunni’s role to really see concepts: age, initiation and what it really Esther. How is this depicted means to grow up. throughout the film? Adolescence, Growing up and Coming of age/initiation ‘I’m a woman … I think …’ • How does Esther’s – Esther relationship with Sunni I think thirteen is such a change during the film. fascinating age; it is a time • Investigate how different of heightened emotion when cultures and groups celebrate • Esther makes some pretty adulthood and childhood this important turning point in terrible mistakes during her collide. I am sure there is not life? quest for self discovery. any other time in life when Does this make her a more • How is it celebrated and everything feels so complicated. believable character? represented in your family? So, I wanted to explore this • What is the role of ‘The Slug’ crazy time, but in a light- • What are some common ways in the film? hearted way, taking some of the it is represented in Australian society? (first love, driving, • Write a biography for one of awkwardness out of teenage alcohol, moving out of home, the supporting characters, angst and most importantly leaving school etc.) Sunni, Jacob, Mary or Grace.
SCREEN EDUCATION 15 Identity and individuality • What does it mean for Esther to be seen as ‘cool’? To fit in It is Sunni who ‘sees’ Esther at with the ‘lion pits’? the beginning of the film. Later she confronts Esther with the • How important is it for Sunni’s lines: identity that she is ‘cool’, playing the drums and having Don’t you get it Esther? Your • The film has been labelled a mother who is cool and whole life is a … lie. You think a thinking Australian girls’ rides a motor bike? you can put on a costume and response to the American change who you are? You wear • Is your school segregated into cult film Mean Girls. a Yellowhill uniform and you’re a groups? Compare and contrast the lion pit. Wear a big red ribbon in • There is a sense of security, two films’ portrayals of peer your hair and you’re a princess? belonging and safety relationships. • Esther yells at her mother belonging to a group. Sexuality in desperation ‘look at me’. However, this comes at a cost ‘I don’t want to be a 14-year-old How much of our identity and to your individuality. Examine virgin.’ individuality is dependent on some of the dichotomies: – Esther how others see us? – being yourself versus being cool ‘I’m not frigid.’ • The girls at Yellowhill are – peer relationships versus – Esther categorized and pigeon-holed being bullied into groups. The nerds, pony • What issues are raised in – identity versus the individual club, wax heads, rah-rahs, the film about sexuality and lollypops, emos, bible bashers • What are the implications for shame? … Esther joins the ‘lion pits’, students who don’t or can’t • How much of the exploring who see themselves as fit in? What happens to ‘The sexuality in the film is not at untamed and independent Slug’. all about sexuality but rather but they still have their rituals • In what ways can schools about conformity, proving (smoking, being tough, support students who don’t fit yourself, performance and costume). Is it possible to find in? peer pressure? a way out of conformity, an escape from stereotypes and labels?
SCREEN EDUCATION 16 A central theme of the film is the stills from the film to mother–daughter relationship. illustrate and explore how a Esther’s and Sunni’s mothers key concept is articulated. have very different parenting • Write a short story in styles and ways of responding response to your thoughts to their children’s adolescence. on one of the key concepts. The film provides opportunities • What ideas and key for young people and their Cinematic devices concepts are suggested by families to consider aspects the use of this title? Title: meaning and of effective parenting such as metaphor • What does the title say? Is communication, responsibility, the title appropriate for the Titles and title sequences honesty, love and engagement. film? are important because they ‘Even a dead stripper would be introduce the film, set the mood, • Pay close attention to the a better mother than you.’ give viewers cues about genre soundtrack during the – Esther and narrative and introduce the opening sequence. How Use examples of events, characters. do the choice of music, dialogue, facial expressions and body language to explore, compare and contrast the mother–daughter relationships in the film. What are the most important features of an effective relationship with your parent/s? Some other key concepts to explore include family, religion, peer relationships and conformity, values, courage and strength, and innocence lost. • Create a PowerPoint presentation of publicity
SCREEN EDUCATION 17 the lyrics, the background throughout this film. Some of noises and sound effects the most poignant are the tie, enhance the impact made ‘Normal’ the duck, Esther’s by the images we see? white/red high-heeled shoes, (The Red Shoes fairy tale) • The song ‘The Only One’ Esther’s Bat-Mitzvah dress actually speaks for Esther. alterations, her earring, the The Poem Dialogue doesn’t begin carousel (on the Mantle next until we are back in Jacob’s The name poem is the symbol to the picture of Sunni’s father bedroom. How does the of Esther’s identity. Through and behind Esther after Mary song serve to introduce the poem, she finds her voice dies), the Rowen ribbon and Esther? and a unique way of expressing the beanbag. The importance herself. It is clever, quirky, • What does the tightly of these symbols lies in how humorous, fragmented and very, choreographed first scene they make the audience feel, very brave. It is very Esther. suggest to the audience how they trigger memories and about the film? associations and prompt us to • Create your own name poem. Who are you? Be brave! Symbols and motifs rethink our assumptions and prejudices; to encourage us to Metaphors Symbols and motifs are part of think of things in a fresh light. a film’s language. They create Metaphors, are also part of the associations in the mind of • Choose one of these recurring film’s language or symbolic the viewer. There are many, symbols and explain how it code. Consider Esther’s duck many symbols and motifs used enhances our understanding ‘Normal’. The duck begins and appreciation of the film. both by representing Esther’s journey from ugly duckling and even more strongly Esther’s innocence, as the symbol of the duck tends to do in Australian
SCREEN EDUCATION 18 culture. Australia’s most famous Esther calls her duck ‘Normal’. symbolic duck possibly belongs When the duck is murdered, to Michael Leunig. Esther loses her innocence and is witness to all the cruelties From his poem A Little Duck: of the world. It is this that With a little luck motivates her to seek change. A duck Esther sees in herself many Appropriation Will come into your life. qualities of the innocent and Throughout the film, Esther … helpless duck, but this spell is appropriates the everyday There’ll be a quack broken by Sunni when she yells objects and language that And right there at your feet ‘You are not “Normal”, you are surround her. It is her way of A little duck will stand; not my duck’. creating cohesion and making She will take you by the hand Esther also uses the duck as sense of her fragmented life. And lead you a way of approaching Mary’s For the audience it provides death and connecting with wit and emphasizes the tight, Like a child with no defence; Sunni at the conclusion of the highly choreographed style of She will lead you film. the film. It takes more than one Into wisdom, joy and innocence. viewing to pick up on all the That little duck.
I wish you luck.14 That duck went on to play a pivotal role in the opening ceremony for the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.
SCREEN EDUCATION 19 appropriations. Two examples • Use of symbolism. The girls of dialogue appropriation are: look like crucifixes as they ‘I’m part of a very important cartwheel on the grass. There scientific experiment’ and ‘all is a moment where it seems Australian growing girls, strong we could be looking at a mass man food!’ graveyard. Later upon Esther’s arrival home • Write a short piece of • The juxtaposition of with ‘Normal’: dialogue using only slogans cartwheels, usually associated from advertising or popular with youthful abandon and • Esther’s house is conservative television series. exuberance and the mind- and well established. How numbing conformity of the important is the setting in this Close analysis of routine. scene? key scenes • Use of music, ‘The Only One’ • Why is it so important for Watch and discuss some of the with lyrics specifically written Grace that her family be key scenes. It might be useful to for the film. ‘normal’? What issues does consider each in relation to the this raise for discussion? • How is Esther introduced? four inter-related dimensions • The use of silence in the • What does the choice of media literacy; the cognitive, soundtrack to convey the of camera shots tell the emotional, aesthetic and moral oppressive, ordered and cold 15 audience about Esther? Why aspects. atmosphere. choose to place her to the left As an example of a close of the shot, looking down on • Why does Grace’s dialogue analysis, consider the film’s and literally analysing what ‘No, was I supposed to?’ opening sequence, Rowen goes on below? tell us so much about her Ladies College roll call: character? • How do we know Esther is • Highly choreographed. What an outsider? How does this are the key messages given scene make us feel? Where to the audience through this do our sympathies lie? introduction to Rowen Ladies College?
SCREEN EDUCATION 20 Soundtrack And sometimes I wish that I could be a part of it, a part that Hey Hey it’s Esther Blueburger fits and people called me by my is a very tightly constructed name. film. Every line of dialogue, every object, every set, every Pretend to be fascinated by what’s going on, what wars camera angle and shot type control and decides to swap were won. holds meaning. The music schools with the lyrics: also tells us a great deal. ‘The I promise that I’ll be nice. Don’t you think it’s time? Only One’ was written by Paul And the best thing … Time for starting new, time for Mac specifically for the film. It changing views, time for making features female vocalist Bertie ‘The House of the Rising Sun’, a up your mind. Don’t you think Blackman. A close analysis of folk song about a brothel, does it’s time, time for moving on, the lyrics reveals just how much a wonderful job of highlighting time for growing strong, time to it captures the essence of the the hypocrisy and the lunacy of leave the past behind. film: Rowen Ladies College. • Watch the film and pay So why does it always feel like The Bob Evans song ‘Don’t you particular attention to the I’m the only one, the lonely one Think it’s Time’ cuts in right at power of the soundtrack. and everybody else is insane. the point where Esther takes And thank you for pointing out where I am going wrong, keep going wrong and nothings making sense, silence screams in my defence. And the best thing about this place is it looks good from outer space, but there’s nothing, nothing here for me. And the rules that they make never let me win and I’m always a freak that can never fit in. Is there someplace, somewhere? ’Coz the best thing around is the wall that leads me out of here.
SCREEN EDUCATION 21 • Which other song lyrics References and contribute to developing the key concepts of the film? further reading Hey Hey it’s Esther Blueburger Further thoughts web site,
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SCREEN EDUCATION 22