Journeys Essay

Journeys come in many forms and has a range of effects on those

who experience and respond to it
In a film or novel the responder should expect to view a journey of a
character or characters experiences and how they respond towards
it. This is illustrated in the film Chocolat directed by Lasse Halstrom
and in the novel Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta through
various film and language techniques. Through Le Comte in
Chocolat and Josies in Looking for Alibrandi the journeys they
experience changes in their lives that enable them to change their
opinions towards things they once despised. From this the responder
is able to relate to the difficulties that their journeys bring about.
In Chocolat the beginning of the film Le Comte is shown to be very
uptight and controlling over the village. This is shown through the
scene where he meets Vianne for the First time, Close up of his
facial expressions shows the viewer the pure disgust in his face
towards Vianne because she is unmarried and refuses to attend
Church unlike the rest of the village. As well as when he leaves her
shop the High angle shot of the Le Comtes ancestors statue is
looking down on him, which illustrates that his family has been in
charge of the village for years and he is trying to keep the village in
order as it was when they were incharge.
Similarly throughout the novel Josie experiences difficulty with
others in accordance of her illegitimacy. This is evident to the reader
in the chapter where Carly says youre more then a wog if you
know what I mean. From the use of colloquial language in wog its
is illustrated how Josie gets picked on for things she cant change like
her illegitimacy. First person is also used in the quote I had a very
strong feeling that she meant my illegitimacy to give emphasis to
the reader to how she just knew exactly as to what Carly was saying
to her. Not only was she a wog but she is also an illegitimate child.
Through the journey that Josie undertakes it is highlighted that
through the influence of other people making fun of her and being
racist towards her makes her also despise herself.
Furthermore in Chocolat Le Comte
Low angle of count sitting at his desk gives emphasis his power and
his knowledge through he books in the background, which to anyone
who comes in his office gives off the thought that he knows what is
best.
Foreground is also used of the Danish buns on Le Comtes desk,
which illustrates to the viewer the temptation of what has been
placed in front of him

Journeys Essay

Through the emotional journey that Le Comte goes on throughout

the film it is evident that Vianne influences him even though he
defies as much as a child not having there way. Through the close
up of Le Comtes lips once the chocolate touches his tongue it gives
the effect of how long he has been longing an indulgence of
something which from his anger has given in. A high angle of Le
Comte after he has eaten all the chocolate in the front window of
Viannes shop, Vianne is looking down on him which gives the effect
that Vianne is looking after him as if looking after Annouk her
daughter. In the film Le Comte changes significantly from influence
of Vianne even though he does this begrudgingly, to the viewer this
emphasises that if you persist enough along with the difficulties to
help someone they will eventually change for the better.
In Looking for Alibrandi Josies inner Journey towards her ethnicity
changes throughout the novel, she eventually learns to embrace it
rather than get embarrassed. In the chapter Tomato Day Josies
immaturity towards her ethnicity is shown through the quote I cant
understand why we cant go to Franklins and buy Leggos or Paul
Newmans special sauce. Nonna had heart failure at this
suggestion. The use of hyperbole Nonna had heart failure gives
emphasis to how she is still very immature at this stage as she
cannot be bothered participating in this day. The humor in the quote
illustrates to the reader that Josie is very disrespectful towards her
Nonna and her ethnicity. Josie experiences difficulty towards her
ethnicity as she is embarrassed by the making of the tomato sauce.
Therefore, Josies inner journey continues as she develops into an
adult.

In Conclusion, Throughout the film Chocolat and the novel Looking

for Alibrandi it is evident that they show various journeys through
the use of Language and Film techniques that give emphasis to the
journeys that the characters are experiencing. This then enables the
responder to empathise and understand how difficulties can effect
them through different ways.