Muriel's Wedding Analytical Response

Analytical Response

Muriel’s Wedding is a classic Australian film, it is a humorous and touching story about Muriel Heslop’s (played by Toni Collette) development of true confidence and friendship. Director P.J. Hogan incorporated the idea of; self-esteem and friendship, Corruption and family. By using cinematographic techniques and ABBA’s music, Hogan was able to portray all his ideas and Australian culture about suburban towns (Porpoise Spit) and the inner city (Sydney).

P.J effectively uses ‘Dancing Queen’ by ABBA to show cast all four of the most important scenes in Muriel’s Wedding. In this first scene, Muriel was accused of stealing a dress, she was told by her father Bill Heslop (played by Bill Hunter) to “find the receipt”. When she was back in her room, she put on her favourite song ‘Dancing Queen’ on her pink tape recorder and dreamed that her life was as good as the song. The camera was zoomed in

Hogan also used ABBA’s music to show the transition in Muriel’s mood and her self-esteem. ‘Waterloo’ was an upbeat music, ‘Fernando’ was sad and ‘I do I do, I do, I do, I do’ was a bit of both. They lip synced to ‘Waterloo’ for the talent contest on Hibiscus Island and won, they then had a talk near the pool and sang ‘Fernando’. While they were singing ‘Fernando’ in figure f , Muriel said: “do you ever think you're nothing. Sometimes I think I'm nothing. Useless.” A high angle shot was used to portray Muriel’s vulnerability and low self-esteem. Hogan said these two scenes were essential in showing the bonding of their friendship and it also portrays Muriel’s low self-esteem. In the last scene where Muriel was walking down the aisle, ‘I do I do, I do, I do, I do’ was played. But this time it portrayed Muriel’s confidence and the breaking of friendship between them. Hogan felt strongly that only ABBA’s music would work with the emotions