GIRL ASLEEP
Australia, 2015, 77 minutes, Colour.
Bethany Whitmore, Harrison Feldman, Matthew Whittet, Amber McMahon?, Eamon Farren, Tilda Cobham- Hervey.
Directed by Rosemary Myers.
This film began its life as a play, a story about a teenage girl, but written by a male playwright who also adapted the script for the screenplay here – and plays the part of the father of the girl asleep, Matthew Whittet.
The film has received quite a lot of very strongly favourable reviews and has won some awards. But not everyone has been caught up in its comedy and it’s a drama – and its veering into fantasy.
The film will have more appeal to female audience, into teenage audiences interested in and perhaps identifying with the central character, Bethany Whitmore. Mothers will also be interested, making comparisons with their daughters and adolescent struggles.
The setting is the 1970s, home in suburbia, school. we are introduced to Greta, the younger daughter in her family, moving from somewhere else and at school the school for the first time, approached by a nerdy young student, Elliott (Harrison Feldman) and approached by a group of Mean Girls who make demands that she moved with them. Greta is more than a little passive at this stage and complies but also apologises later to get.
Meanwhile, back at home, her mother and father are keen to host a 15th birthday party for her, something which she does not want it all. For me, she has an older sister in she can confide and who gives her good advice. Eventually, Greta agrees but is dismayed at the party dress that her mother takes her out in. At the party, many of the school students arrive with gifts, making Greta somewhat over laden. And Elliott arrives all suited up.So, we can this story go from here?
From quirky and some deadpan situations into a whole realm of fantasy, with some of the wild things are or seem to be. Greta goes into a rather dark forest wonderland, encountering characters who encourage, who told, who confuse – and are played by the actors who portray her parents, her sister’s boyfriend, talking with Elliott’s voice, as well as a benign kind of fairy, female guide. For a puzzling audience, what happens is not always clear – frequently not clear, so the best thing is to surrender to the fantasy, observed Greta and see what the experience of being lost, chased, warned, encouraged leads to.
One of the things it does lead to is a bit of rebellion on Greta’s part and her persuading Elliott, whom she has insulted by suggesting that people say he is gay but has apologised, to give her his suit to wear and feed to wear her dress. Done.The party continues and the film suggests that Greta has gone through something of a rite of passage and will come out well at the other end.
1. The title, the focus on Greta, her age, her fears, her family, her fantasies?
2. The suburban settings, home, school? The contrast with the fantasy sequences, the forest, the characters, the atmosphere? The musical score, the songs? The lyrics and their comment on character and action?
3. Greta’s story, 14, going on 15, her place in the family, relationship with her mother and father, with her older sister and her confidences? The move? Going to the school, new to the area? The atmosphere, the period, school uniforms? Her sitting alone on the bench, Elliott coming to talk with her, her awkwardness, yet her interest in him? The three girls, the Mean Girls approach, demanding that Greta move with them? Her going off, later apology to Elliott?
4. At school, learning, at home, her parents and their expectations? The characters, work, joviality? The plan for a party? Greta not wanting it?
5. The pressure on Greta, the discussions with Elliott, with the girls? Her agreeing to have the party?
6. The preparations, the dress and her not wanting it? The father, his enthusiasm? The mother, her wanting the party, the glamour? The invitations?
7. The party, Greta and the dress, her sister supporting her, the parents dressing up? The guests arriving, saying hello, the gifts? The range of fellow-students? Elliott’s arrival, the suit? The music, the dancing, her parents’ enthusiasm?
8. Greta withdrawing, talking with Elliott, hhis talk about friendship, the advance for the kiss, her reaction, insinuation that he was homosexual, his taking offence?
9. Greta, lying down, going to sleep?
10. The dream, the screen time devoted to it, audiences able to identify with Greta and her puzzles, her quest? Identifying with Greta in the forest? The dim forest, the perils, the touch of the Grimms’ Fairy Tales? Greta herself, her quest, being lost, the trees, the dark, the water, her becoming enveloped?
11. Range of characters, threatening, welcoming? Male and female? The ambiguities? Greta’s father and his character, the mother and her appearance, her sister’s boyfriend, the French background, his talking with the voice of Elliott? The interchange of voices? The benign character, a guide, wisdom, helping Greta? The appearance of the Mean Girls and their influence, at the party, their reactions?
12. The effect of the dream, the change in Greta, more self-acceptance? Her sister urging her to go down to the party? Her apology to Elliott? Seeing everyone again and becoming involved in the party? Her changing into Elliott’s suit and his changing into her dress?
13. A symbolic coming-of-age story? The male writer of the play and screenplay? The women performing, directing? The impact for parents, for teenagers, for teenage girls like Greta?
