Puberty Blues
Encyclopedia
Puberty Blues is a 1981 Australia
n film directed by Bruce Beresford
. The film is based on the 1979 novel Puberty Blues, by Gabrielle Carey
and Kathy Lette
, which is a proto-feminist teen novel about two 13 year-old girls from the Sutherland Shire
in Sydney
, Australia
. The girls attempt to create a popular social status by integrating themselves with the "Greenhill gang" of surfers.
reasons, in the film their age was upped to 16. Much of the content of the novel appears in the film, with several passages of text recounted by the film's protagonist Debbie (Nell Schofield) in a voice over narration. The film closely follows the story and character trajectory of the novel. Some of the novel's characters are composites
in the film. The tone of the novel is generally darker than that of the film, and in the novel Debbie and her best friend Sue who join the surfer gang are shown to be much more willing participants in activities than they are in the film. Some of the darker moments of the book have been removed or softened for the film. The film adds a comedy beach brawl between the surfers and the lifeguards that does not feature in the novel.
Much of the obscure surfer slang of the novel has been omitted from the film. The novel features some discussion about television series Number 96
. One passage of the novel that mentions the title is recounted by the film's protagonist in a voice over narration, but because the series had ended by the time of the 1981 film the series title is replaced by the generic term "television".
Schofield found the surfing scenes easy because she was an avid surfer in real life. "Like Debbie, I wanted to be a surfie chick. But once I was, I wanted out before it got too heavy. I hated the alcohol and the drug scene. I saw so many kids fall down on the ground after taking drugs." Of making the film Schofield said "We didn't expect any glitter, and we didn't get any. It was hard work."
. In the film it was sung by Sharon O'Neill
. It was released by Jenny Morris as a single on Mushroom Records
in December 1981.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n film directed by Bruce Beresford
Bruce Beresford
Bruce Beresford is an Australian film director who has made more than 30 feature films over a 40-year career.-Early life:...
. The film is based on the 1979 novel Puberty Blues, by Gabrielle Carey
Gabrielle Carey
Gabrielle Carey is an Australian writer noted for the teen novel Puberty Blues which she co-wrote with Kathy Lette. This novel was the first teenage novel published in Australia that was actually written by teenagers.-Life:...
and Kathy Lette
Kathy Lette
Kathy Lette is an Australian author who has written a number of bestselling books.Born in Sydney's southern suburbs, she first attracted attention in 1979 as the coauthor of Puberty Blues, a strongly autobiographical, proto-feminist teen novel about two 13-year-old southern suburbs girls...
, which is a proto-feminist teen novel about two 13 year-old girls from the Sutherland Shire
Sutherland Shire
The Sutherland Shire is a Local Government Area in the Southern Sydney region of Sydney, Australia. Geographically, it is the area to the south of Botany Bay and the Georges River...
in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The girls attempt to create a popular social status by integrating themselves with the "Greenhill gang" of surfers.
Changes from book to film
For censorshipCensorship
thumb|[[Book burning]] following the [[1973 Chilean coup d'état|1973 coup]] that installed the [[Military government of Chile |Pinochet regime]] in Chile...
reasons, in the film their age was upped to 16. Much of the content of the novel appears in the film, with several passages of text recounted by the film's protagonist Debbie (Nell Schofield) in a voice over narration. The film closely follows the story and character trajectory of the novel. Some of the novel's characters are composites
Composite character
A composite character is a character composed of two or more individuals, appearing in a fictional or non-fictional work. Two fictional characters are often combined into one upon adaptation of a work from one medium to another, as in the film adaptation of a novel...
in the film. The tone of the novel is generally darker than that of the film, and in the novel Debbie and her best friend Sue who join the surfer gang are shown to be much more willing participants in activities than they are in the film. Some of the darker moments of the book have been removed or softened for the film. The film adds a comedy beach brawl between the surfers and the lifeguards that does not feature in the novel.
Much of the obscure surfer slang of the novel has been omitted from the film. The novel features some discussion about television series Number 96
Number 96 (TV series)
Number 96 was a popular Australian soap opera set in a Sydney apartment block. Don Cash and Bill Harmon produced the series for Network Ten, which requested a Coronation Street-type serial, and specifically one that explored adult subjects...
. One passage of the novel that mentions the title is recounted by the film's protagonist in a voice over narration, but because the series had ended by the time of the 1981 film the series title is replaced by the generic term "television".
Behind the scenes
Lead actor in the film, Nell Schofield, said that "It's a very honest and realistic movie. It touches on this and it touches on that. I really like it. It's subtle and doesn't preach: 'This is the way of life.'" Schofield felt that "Different sections of the audience will perceive different levels. The parents who go and see it will come out and either believe it or it will give them a bit of a jolt. They'll start looking at their kids a different way and try to bridge the generation gap." She added that "The film is feminist in a way. I think it is also a comment on peer group pressure, male chauvinism in teenage groups, school and parent hassles."Schofield found the surfing scenes easy because she was an avid surfer in real life. "Like Debbie, I wanted to be a surfie chick. But once I was, I wanted out before it got too heavy. I hated the alcohol and the drug scene. I saw so many kids fall down on the ground after taking drugs." Of making the film Schofield said "We didn't expect any glitter, and we didn't get any. It was hard work."
Soundtrack
The theme song "Puberty Blues" was written by Tim FinnTim Finn
Brian Timothy "Tim" Finn, OBE is a New Zealand singer and musician. Finn is most known for his music with New Zealand 1970s and 1980s rock group Split Enz, and later for his solo work, a temporary membership in his brother Neil's band Crowded House and his joint efforts with Neil Finn as the Finn...
. In the film it was sung by Sharon O'Neill
Sharon O'Neill
-Albums:*1979 - This Heart This Song*1980 - Sharon O'Neill*1980 - Words*1981 - Maybe*1983 - Foreign Affairs*1983 - Smash Palace *1984 - So Far - The Best 14...
. It was released by Jenny Morris as a single on Mushroom Records
Mushroom Records
Mushroom Records is an Australian recoJrd company formed by Michael Gudinski and Ray Evans in Melbourne in 1972. After its sale in 1998, it merged into Festival Mushroom Records. From 2005 to 2009, it is one of the record labels operated by Warner Bros...
in December 1981.
Box Office
Puberty Blues grossed $3,918,000 at the box office in Australia, which is equivalent to $12,694,320 in 2009 dollars.Further reading
- Murray, Scott (editor), Australian Film, 1978-1994, Oxford, 1995. ISBN 0-19-553777-7