Discussion Questions on

1
Discussion Questions on

• Silver Screen Comes to the Local Scene

2
Opening of Film

• Shows a montage of photographs of three female
  characters growing up through the years
• We see their closeness over the years through
  seasonal and holiday photographs
• We get the sense that we are looking at a
  photograph scrapbook
• The montage sequence captures events of the past
  in a quick sequence
• The montage is similar to a quick flashback in
  this case

3
Wedding Scene

• We see the scene from JoJos point of view
  through the use of subjective camera (also known
  as point-of-view shots)
• There is no dialogue
• The sequence is much like a montage
• We witness a series of shots that create an
  effect
• Here the montage-like sequence is slower paced
  than the opening montagejust one event is
  captured
• Voiceover is used as we hear the words the way
  JoJo hears themwith specific words taking on
  special meaning
• We are beginning to see that the film deals with
  moving from adolescents to adulthood, the
  challenges of accepting responsibility and
  leaving behind the carefree spirit of adolescents

4
Mystic Pizzeria in Opening Shots

• We get the feel that Mystic Pizzeria is an
  ordinary family-run, small business
• We learn that the three lead characters work at
  the pizzeria
• The scene at the restaurant appears to be a
  typical day-to-day scene
• We see the contrast between Daisys and Kats
  character

5
Mystic, Connecticut

• Seaside town with boatyards and quaint coastal
  scenes
• Working-class population that depends on fishing
  and lobster industry for its livelihood as well
  as family-run businesses
• Small-town where everybody knows everyone
• Wealthy people own the mansions and expensive
  homes on the shoreline

6
Parallel Plot Development

• The film develops three storylines with a
  similaritythe main female characters are engaged
  in romantic relationships and learning important
  lessons about growing up
• We see JoJo with Bill, we meet Tim, who will be
  Kats love interest, and we see a glimpse of
  Charlie as his red Porsche catches Daisys eye as
  she looks through the restaurant window

7
Clothing

• Daisy wears a provocative red Mystic Pizza
  tee-shirtshe is the adventurism one in the group
• JoJo wears a black tee-shirtshe is trying to
  appear mature and acts in controlshe is also
  interested in seducing Bill
• Kat initially wears a white tee-shirtshe is the
  young, innocent one, the least experienced of the
  groupthe schoolgirl type
• Daisy wears a low-cut, red sweater in the pool
  scene, making her look seductive
• The Yale girls are dressed conservatively
• Later Kat wears red in her seduction scene

8
Symbols in the Film

• Red PorscheCharlies wealth that he flaunts,
  flashiness, trying to impress, carefree, but
  later the car gets a flat tire and lobster is
  poured on it
• Bills lobster truckhis working-class status,
  his identity as a lobster fisherman
• The windows and doors at Tims houseput Kat on
  the outside looking in
• Tims sweaterhe is flirting with Kat and
  inviting a relationship

9
Music

• Respectthe female characters want respect and
  they are the assertive ones in the filmplays
  during the scene when Daisy, Kat, and JoJo drive
  out to the country club in Bills pick-up truck
• Seriousplays during the scene in the pool
  hall, as Daisy and Charlie are starting to think
  seriously about one another

10
Important Close-Ups

• Shot of praying hands in the hallway between
  Daisys and Kats bedrooms
• Shots of Daisy playing pool
• Shots of Daisys and Charlies face in the scene
  where Charlie tells Daisy about cheating at law
  school
• Close-up of Kats face when she see Charlie
  through the window at the country club
• Close-up of Daisys face when she sees Charlie at
  the country club
• Shot of JoJos face when she faints at the church
• What close-ups do you remember??

11
Angle Shots

• When Kat and Tim on the staircase, with Kat in
  the high angle shots looking down at her and Tim
  in low angle shots with the camera looking up at
  himhe is in control
• Bill and JoJo in dockside shotscamera angles
  show Bill in low angle shots looking up at him
  when he is in control and high angles looking
  down at JoJo when she is in a weakened position

12
POV Shots

• JoJo at the wedding
• Kat when she watches Charlie and Daisy kissing
  alongside the Porsche
• Kat when she views Charlie at the country club
  with another woman
• Charlie looking at Daisy during the pool game

13
Coming-of-Age Theme

• Kats is going through her first romantic
  encounter and feels the pain of a breakup
• Daisy realizes that she has more in life than the
  day-to-day present and she takes control over her
  life
• JoJo learns that she must move beyond playful
  seduction and decides to marry Bill because she
  sees the value of their commitment

14
Outdoor Sets

• Main Street in Mystic, Connecticut
• The dockyard showing Bills lobster boat
• Tims spacious front yard, boat dock, and the
  coastal inland view in the rear of the house
• We see a contrast between the wealthy and
  working-class families and are reminded of the
  New England coastlinefor the working class, the
  coastline functions as a way to earn a living,
  and for the wealthy as a frill for sport and
  enjoyment
• Nighttime skies and stargazing at Tims house

15
Indoor Sets

• The pizzeriaa place of friendship and good
  times, a sense of stabilitynot only a workplace
  but a sense of familyJoJos and Bills wedding
  reception and the closing scene of the film are
  at the pizzeria
• The living room and bedrooms at the Araujos
  homeordinary, working-class family, the two
  bedrooms contrast the two sisters, and the
  hallway symbolizes what separates themthe
  bonding scene occurs in Kats bedroom as Daisy
  comes in and hugs her

16
Male Characters

• They are secondary to the female characters
• The films depicts the 1980s with women taking an
  active role in romantic relationships, being the
  initiators
• The three male characters contrast with one
  another
• They also serve as foils for developing the
  characteristics of the female characters

17
Parallel Plot Development in Final Scenes

• Daisy and Charlie are re-united
• Bill and JoJo are re-united
• Kat learns that her romantic relationship with
  Tim is an empty infatuation
• All three characters pass through a coming-of-age
  based on the outcome of their relationships with
  men
• In the last portion of the film, we see three
  parallel seduction scenes and three parallel
  outcome scenes of each relationship

18
Time Period and Location

• Time Period late 1980sthe Womens Movement has
  made it okay for women to be the aggressive one
  in relationships
• Females characters in films are increasingly
  playing gutsy roles
• A Connecticut shoreline community is a perfect
  setting for showing the contrast of the wealthy
  and working-class
• The screenwriter plays off the scenery of the
  Connecticut shoreline in creating a romantic
  comedy

19
Humor

• Hitch-hiking scene
• Lobster in the Porsche
• Phantom Diner
• Raw pizza served to the table of woman
• The false teeth in the water glass
• JoJo followed by Bill coming out of the ladies
  room

20
Acting

• Which actors and actresses are the most
  convincing in their roles?
• What do the film critics say about the acting?
  Do you agree?
• Are the characters well cast?
• Originally, Julie Roberts was considered for the
  role of JoJodo you think Roberts landed the
  right role in the film?

21
Full Circle

• The film begins and ends with the wedding
• The characters come of age

Kat realizes that she is ready to move on with
her life and attend Yale she gets over Tim
JoJo realizes that she is fortunate to have found
someone as loyal and true as Bill
Daisys relationship with Charlie succeeds
because of Daisys forthrightness