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The representation of relationships and the theme of growing up

REPRESENTATION: RELATIONSHIPSJORDANA & OLIVER:

The relationship is portrayed as quite youthful and fun to begin with but unpredictability is a theme throughout the relationship

The moment they first kiss is very odd and steers away from conventional ‘first kiss’ scenes in films. Jordana is blackmailing Oliver and therefore a control on Jordana’s side over Oliver is relationship is established.

It could be seen as an unconventional relationship in terms of typical film relationships, the relationship is very realistic and could be relatable in terms of relationships at their age in real life.

When Oliver wants to tell Jordana about his parents but she tells him about her mother having Cancer, (Oliver feels he can not tell her about his own parents after) the relationship shifts from ‘fun’ to more serious in terms of external problems intertwining with their relationship. Here a more sensitive side of Jordana is shown and the relationship becomes fragile as she does too.

She asks Oliver to come to the hospital with her but he declines; from Jordana being quite withdrawn and ‘strong’ to open and fragile, a shift of control is seen in their relationship.

Throughout, the difference in personality is shown: Oliver tries to act very mature and adult-like but actually very unsure of himself. Jordana however is externally very strong and confident but emotionally withdrawn but when news about her mother is shared, she is shown as quite fragile and in need of support from Oliver but his immaturity doesn’t allow him to see that.

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LLOYD & JILL TATE:

Their relationship is shown as quite different and more serious and complicated than Jordana and Oliver.

Oliver is worried that Jill is cheating on Lloyd with an old flame Graham (the next door neighbour). When he mentions it to Lloyd he brushes off the subject as if trying to ignore the situation.

Jill seems to have more fun when with Graham and Oliver sees her and Graham together alone which suggests further that something is going on between them

The relationship represents adult relationships as distant and mundane at first but as Oliver tries to keep their marriage together by writing a note ‘from’ Lloyd to Jill, their relationship begins to rekindle particularly when Graham leaves the picture.

Overall the contrast between the these two relationships shows ‘fun’ youthful relationships and ‘boring’ adult relationships. However, both relationships shift in the film- Lloyd and Jill begin to have a more stable and happier relationship whereas Oliver and Jordana go the opposite way.

REPRESENTATION: RELATIONSHIPS

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GROWING UP

The main theme of the film is growing up and through experiencing difficulties and love, Oliver grows up by the end of the film.

The film starts with a shot of Oliver looking at the sunset and the film ends in the same way, however Jordana joins him whilst looking at the sunset and

it shows a more mature and experienced Oliver rather than the uncertain and somewhat confused Oliver at the beginning of the film.

The film doesn’t have one stable plot (relating to genre, e.g. action film usually has a crime related narrative) but the narrative is quite simple in the fact it just expresses the characters experiences and the core theme of

growing up.

Overall, the film begins with expressing child-like and immature behaviour (Oliver himself, and his school friends as well as Jordana) but as him and

Jordan in particular experience stressful situations (Oliver-his mum possibly cheating, Jordana- her mum having cancer) which matures their

characters.

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