In the visual text Looking for Alibrandi, directed by Kate Woods, there is a strong connection between the opening and closing scenes. This is shown by the use of various film techniques and the resolution of the major theme of “The search for identity and belonging.” This essay will illustrate the similarities and differences between the first and last scene and show the link between them because of the use of sound, verbal and visual techniques in the film.
In the film Looking for Alibrandi there is a link between the opening and closing scenes. One way this is portrayed is with the visual technique of sepia tone. The first scene is shown in sepia tone until Josie switches the 1950’s Italian music to modern music. This shows how Josie doesn’t feel that she identifies with her family and culture. This issue is then resolved in the last scene because the Italian “Tomato Day” celebration is then shown in full colour, and Josie is wilfully participating, unlike in the opening scene. This shows how messages are portrayed and that problems are solved in the movie with the connection between the first and last scene.
The use of verbal features in Looking for Alibrandi creates a link between the first and last scene. This feature is the first-person narration by Josie which allows the audience to understand her feelings and also so we know exactly how her and her attitudes have changed. In the first scene, Josie’s narration portrays her negative attitude towards “Tomato Day” and how she feels it’s old-fashioned as she states
“…or as I like to call it, “National Wog Day…do I really belong here?!” This is a contrasts strongly with her views in the closing scene and her change in attitude is conveyed through the use of her narration as she says “…I’m Christina and Michael’s daughter, and Katia’s granddaughter and we are not cursed, we are blessed.” When you compare this to the opening scene where she says “…I have got to get out of here… I’m cursed…” you can clearly see how her attitude has changed. These examples show how by the final scene she feels that she identifies with her family and has accepted her culture. Therefore the connection between the first and last scene is strongly portrayed through the use of the verbal technique of first-person narration.
In the film Looking for Alibrandi the sound technique of the jet plane is also used to show the link between the first and last scene. This device is used in the very beginning of the movie and is a sound and visual metaphor that symbolises a major advance in the plot or understanding by a character. The plane is shown along with the sound to introduce the idea that Josie does not identify with her old culture and that the plane is pointing her way forward to a future in modern Australia. In the last scene, however, Josie makes a statement about her and her family which is then followed by the sound and view of the jet roaring overhead. This shows that the issue of her feeling as though she doesn’t identify with her family and culture has been resolved in Josie’s mind. Therefore there is a strong link between the first and last scene as the main issue is introduced in the first scene and is resolved in the last – with the accompaniment of a jet crashing across the sky.
In conclusion, the use of various techniques helped to portray, the themes in Looking for Alibrandi and created a link between the first and last scenes. In the film we saw how Josie matured and how her attitudes changed, and as a result of these changes we saw how she understood her family more. This teaches the audience that they too can transform a negative attitude towards their family and culture to a positive one which

makes them more resilient individuals with a stronger sense of belonging in this world.