Joy
Thursday night. Late night shopping. Joy wants to have fun.
Director’s statement:
“Where I grew up, shopping malls were the centre of the universe, glowing castles surrounded by miles and miles of suburban desolation. I still love shopping malls so I was very excited about making a film set in one. Also I wanted to look at adolescent behaviour―sexuality and violence and the way adults condition kids; the way we influence them often makes them feel bad about themselves. I see Joy, the girl in the film, as an angel and the shopping mall as a type of heaven. The problem is Joy has dirty wings and keeps tripping up and landing back down on earth.
The film is influenced by the work of text-based artists Jenny Holzer and Barbara Kruger and by music videos and advertising. I wanted to make a film teenage girls would watch and enjoy. And one that would hopefully make mums and dads question what is coming out of their mouths and falling into such pretty young ears.”
Screenplay by Cate Shortland
Director’s statement:
“Where I grew up, shopping malls were the centre of the universe, glowing castles surrounded by miles and miles of suburban desolation. I still love shopping malls so I was very excited about making a film set in one. Also I wanted to look at adolescent behaviour―sexuality and violence and the way adults condition kids; the way we influence them often makes them feel bad about themselves. I see Joy, the girl in the film, as an angel and the shopping mall as a type of heaven. The problem is Joy has dirty wings and keeps tripping up and landing back down on earth.
The film is influenced by the work of text-based artists Jenny Holzer and Barbara Kruger and by music videos and advertising. I wanted to make a film teenage girls would watch and enjoy. And one that would hopefully make mums and dads question what is coming out of their mouths and falling into such pretty young ears.”
Screenplay by Cate Shortland
- Director
- Cate Shortland
- Producer
- Rachel Clements
