CLUELESS

 

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By Vicki Unsworth

Amy Heckerling wrote and directed the film Clueless from an adaptation of Jane Austen's fourth novel, Emma. The story centered on the character of Cher Horowitz, a modernized version of Emma. Cher was a seventeen-year-old high-school student who attended Beverly Hills High and lived in a beautiful mansion, in none other than, Beverly Hills. Like Emma, Cher's mother died when she was a young girl (routine lyposuction gone bad) and she lived with her father, Mel Horowitz, a high-powered, cutthroat litigator attorney who worked long hours and was over protective of his only child. Like Emma's father Mr. Woodhouse, Mel was strict and wanted to protect Cher from the evils of the world. He was stern with his daughter when it came to such things as curfew, table manners and her boyfriends. The only man he trusted his daughter with was his ex-stepson Josh, a twenty something political/intellectual/social activist college student, whom Cher considered incredibly dull and boring.

The audience was then introduced to Dionne, Cher's best friend. Dionne was the Miss Taylor in Jane Austen's Emma however; she was the same age as Cher, African American, with an outrageous fashion sense. Cher and Dionne were the most popular girls in school, all the boys wanted to date them and all the girls are jealous and envious of their good looks. The only world they knew was a superficial, image conscious, consumerist society full of designer clothing, expensive cars and plastic surgery.

Cher was not a good student, however; she maintained a high average through persuasion and bribery. When Cher received a disappointing report card, she managed to improve her marks by promising her teachers she would donate much of her free time to charity work and extra curricular school activities.
Heckerling continued the theme of 'matchmaker' found in Jane Austen's classic. Cher Horowitz took pride in her looks and was obsessed with making over and matchmaking couples. She and Dionne decided to makeover the 'new girl' in school so that she was every bit as they were.

Heckerling introduced her audience to the character of Tai, her version of Harriet Smith. Tai was transferred from a low class school in Los Angeles. She was from a poor family, her clothes were plain, her hair was messy - She lacked all of the characteristics needed to fit in at Beverly Hills High. Nonetheless, Cher saw the potential in Tai and befriended her right away. The next day at school, Tai walked in with Cher and Dionne looking drastically made over. She wore borrowed clothes, her hair was freshly coloured and her make-up perfectly applied. Tai instantly became friends with a boy named Travis whom she met in the lunch line. He was termed a grunge wearing, weed smoking 'skater' who was constantly late for class. Cher and Dionne disapproved of her new friend, and new that they had to do something to distract her. Cher quickly thought up the idea of setting up Tai with Elton, the most popular boy in school, who was conveniently single.

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