PALO ALTO
US, 2013, 100 minutes, Colour.
Jack Kilmer, Nat Wolff, Val Kilmer, Zoe Levin, Chris Messina.
Directed by Gia Coppola.
This film is based on a novel by James Franco, who, as he grew older, was a student, a writer, photographer, film director, as well as very frequent actor. His novel is based on his experiences of growing up in Palo Alto. Here he plays the coach at the school where the central characters go, makes advances on April, Emma Roberts, a virgin who is torn between Teddy, the nice boy at school, and the coach.
This is a story of young people, in a comfortable society, their participation in education, aspects of sexuality and drugs in their lives, friendships, betrayal.
The two central boys played by Jack Kilmer, a particularly fine performance, sensitive, from this son of Val Kilmer who appears in a cameo role. Nat Wolff is the rowdy young man whose life begins to move into chaos.
A lot of life in Palo Alto is in partying, which has all kind of detrimental effects on the central characters, their futures, their life choices.
The film was adapted and directed by Gia Coppola, the granddaughter of Francis Ford Coppola and Alan or Coppola, the daughter of Gian Carlo Coppola (who died in a boat accident before she was born). This means that she is a cousin of all the other Copploas, Nicolas Cage and the Schwartzmans. Her only other films have been short films
1. A Californian story, about high school teenagers, adults only in the background? The reality of this life? Affluent, worldly, drugs, sexual encounters, psychological states? Hope and despair?
2. The city, homes, school, the meetings of the young, the soccer field, the streets, cafes? Art class? The attention to detail of Palo Alto life? The musical score and songs?
3. The stories by James Franco, his experiences, his perspectives, on young men, on young women? From a writer in his 20s and 30s?
4. The background of short stories, each story in itself, like chapters in a book, episodes put on hold and then returned to, connections?
5. April’s parents, the tough mother, on the phone, preparing breakfast, communicating with her daughter? Her father in the chair, drugs? Teddy, his parents, appearing when he was sentenced to community service? Freddy, Teddy’s visit to his father, and his coming onto him sexually? Freddy’s denial?
6. Introduction to the group, seeing them together, their age, experience, at school, the drugs, the recklessness, especially in driving? Teddy and Freddy, their talking, imagination, comparing their status in society, Freddy crashing the car into the wall? April, the soccer, chat with the other girls, Mr B, their discussions of him, April at home?
7. April’s story, Emma Roberts, age, impressionable, virgin, babysitting for Mr B, her relationship with Michael, the playing games, the adult movie, putting him to bed, the competitiveness of the games? Mr B, his talking with April, kissing, April upset? At soccer practice, his demands, his private declarations of love, yet ignoring April during the practice? Her pleading to him? The sexual encounter, the effect, the aftermath, with her parents? The babysitting, playing the games, Michael demanding cookies, the discovery that there was another babysitter, anger, disillusionment? The soccer game, the loss, her friendship
with Teddy, their not seeing each other, going to the party, their talking together, walking together, sharing? The future?
8. The comparison between April and the other girls, the glamorous style, chat, the sequence in the toilet when she was upset, their superficial style?
9. Emily, with the boys, with April, the discussions whether she was pretty or not, the episode at the pool with Freddy, his pushing her into the pool, her coming out, perhaps coming to her senses?
10. Teddy’s story, age, high school, Freddy as his friend, the discussions? Palo Alto imagination? Carving the heart of the tree, later with Freddy sawing it down? The initial crashing into the wall? His reckless driving, high, his leaving the scene of the accident, the complainants having his numberplate, the police arriving, his arrogant repartee with them? His parents and his being sentenced to community service?
11. The effect of community service, the work and the library, his liking it, reading, the artwork, being helpful? Freddy’s visit, defacing the book? The harsh community service officer, telling Teddy off, transferring him to the elderly? With the elderly, the sketch, the old lady being appreciative and hanging it in her room, her exhorting him to keep his talent, liking the fact of helping people? Improving? Some heart?
12. The art class, Freddy and his painting, the near death experience, the teacher and his parable about near death, the wrong identity, turning around? Freddy remembering this story in his final reckless drive?
13. Teddy at the parties, the sawing down of the tree, Freddy’s knife, Freddy’s erratic driving, talk, Teddy getting out of the car, talk with April, sharing, happy ending and future?
14. Freddy, sexual preoccupation, homophobia, his father, his talk, getting high, the outcast, Emily at the pool, and knife, the threat to Teddy, his final drive, saying he was not Bob and remembering the parable of the art teacher?
15. The lifestyle, California, values and lack of values, possibilities of change and redemption?
