Notes on ‘Heavenly Creatures’

Notes on ‘Heavenly Creatures’

‘Heavenly Creatures’ is a film based on a true story directed by Peter Jackson. It is about the notorious 1954 Parker-Hulme murder case in Christchurch, New Zealand which was murder case in which Honora Rieper was murdered by her teenage daughter, Pauline Parker, and her best friend, Juliet Hulme and this is what Peter Jacked based the film on. The film was released in 1994 and in a review from Roger Ebert (Chicago Sun-Times) he said ‘What makes Jackson's film enthralling and frightening is the way it shows these two unhappy girls, creating an alternative world so safe and attractive they thought it was worth killing for’. The demographic that found the film most appealing were females aged 30-44 however can see why teenage girls would like this movie as well, due to the very close friendship the girls have.

The film has a circular narrative (it ends where it starts) and is told in a flashback.

The soundtrack being played is the ‘Humming Chorus’ which is an inter-textual reference Madama Butterfly, a grand opera.  The two girls (the main characters) are planned to be separated because of their unhealthy relationship, giving up their friendship. This links to Madama Butterfly because Butterfly has to give up her son; they are both tragedies between mother and child.  The soundtrack also contradicts the action creating a huge climax and upsetting.

Humming Chorus from Madama Butterfly and Madama Butterfly final scene (second clip)

When the girls and the mother are in the cafe there is the use of shot reverse shot which is used to show two people in a conversation or looking at each other. Next there is the use of point of view shots to position the audience with the characters; this engages the audience with the characters emotions. The final scenes are also slowed down to create a suspense atmosphere. This also emphasizes the final times of the mother’s life which allows the audience to predict a horrific act.

The location the final scene is in is very isolated suggesting that there are very few ways out. Peter Jackson challenges the generic conventions in the film by having the film based on two middle class well bred 15 and 16 year old girls.

 The clocks in the movie also play a role by telling us where certain characters are at certain times 

When the three walk down the enclosed rural path, the audience notice that the mother is in-between the two girls. This connotes that the mother is the center of their problems and also implies that the mother is intercepting their future plans.