Looking for Alibrandi

Change is a necessary part of life; however, it is often a difficult concept to understand. Our experiences, the people we meet and the places we go, are all aspects that can bring about change in our lives. Melina Marchetta’s Looking for Alibrandi, and the film The Breakfast Club, directed by John Hughes, explores the aspects of relationships and perspective through the experiences of central characters, therefore, enhancing the audience's understanding of the concept of change.

Marchetta interprets change by exploring relational changes through influential events that occur to the characters. Relational change is conveyed most effectively in the novel through Josie and John Barton. Throughout the novel, as Josie matures and changes, so does her relationship with John. John was first described in a very happy tone, as the stereotype she wanted to be a part of, although towards the end of the novel she sees him as a real person with struggles. The audience's understanding of change is enhanced through the technique of first person narration, as it gives an insight into Josie’s perspective on the growth of her relationship with John. The change and growth in Josie and John's relationship helps Josie realise her own prejudice, as there was a contrast between them, Josie had a happy and positive tone, while John had a dark mentality. This is demonstrated when Josie realises “I’d wanted him to be what I wanted and not what he was.” Throughout the novel Josie shows a love, hate relationship between the three Alibrandi women. This is another example of the relational changes in the novel, as Josie went from despising her Nonna, only to realise that she was surrounded to the two most powerful women in her life. The changes in Josies relationships majorly impact her from the places she goes, and the experiences she encounters, therefore realising that she only needs the important people in her life.

The film The Breakfast Club explores the changes in relationships between the characters from the events that take place. The film demonstrates changes between all of the characters, it does not focus on a few. Each of the characters form a friendship with one another by rebelling against the authority and sharing their own personal experiences. An example of the rebellion amongst the group, is when they were running through the halls to get back to the library without being caught, this is filmed through long shots and tracking shots. Bender sacrifices himself for the group, this shows that Bender is willing to get in trouble for them because he cares about them. There are a few scenes where they bond over their own personal experiences, this subsequently enhances the understandings of one another and brings them closer together. In the scene where they smoke marijuana, it causes them to open up to each other, it affects each of them differently. For example, Andy runs around and dances to the music, which is shown through diegetic sounds. The Breakfast Club enhances the audience's understanding of change, by exploring the relational changes between the characters, which is caused by the experiences they encounter and the people they meet.

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