Andy “the Jock” arrives in an SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle) with his father. His dad then lectures him about how no college will accept him if he carries on badly behaving. He is wearing a school baseball jumper. The mis-en-scene makes us think that he is a very sporty, active, and popular student. He has a great hatred for Bender, and they argue a lot during the beginning of the film. In one point he even attacks Bender, but then stops after seeing that Bender carries a knife around with him. Andy also shows many signs that he has a romantic interest in Allison, after finding out that they have very similar problems at home. He reveals later in the film that he is in the detention because he taped a student’s buttocks together with Zinc tape. He says that he says that he feels great shame and guilt. He says that his father always talks about his time at school and how he used to pull pranks on other students. Andy says: “I feel like my dad was disappointed in me for never pulling any stupid pranks, and not being ‘cool’”. He also says that his father pressures him into doing wrestling and sports, and he believes that he has to come first in everything. At the end of the film he steps across the social divide by shows his feelings for Allison. We realise that he is not a Jock; he is really the same as everyone else.
Claire “the Princess” arrives in an expensive BMW with her father. We know why she is in the detention straight away during a conversation with her dad (she went shopping instead of going to class). We know that she is spoilt because she states “Can’t you get me out of this one, Daddy?” and he replies
“I’m sorry sweetheart, I’ll make it up to you”. He is not angry whatsoever, and we can see that he does everything his daughter tells him to. She is wearing diamond earrings, expensive, smart clothes and has a costly haircut. Later in the film she is very hostile to Bender because he makes fun of her, but she is friendly to the rest of the characters. Bender constantly asks her if she is a virgin, and she eventually reveals that she is. Claire says that her parents are divorced and they use her to get back at each other. She is often teased and made fun of by Bender, who really has feelings for her. He makes fun of her mother and how she has everything and he has nothing. She expresses how she hates having to go along with everything her friends say. She is trapped by her popularity. And she eventually accepts her feelings for him, also stepping across the social divide.
Allison “the Kook” arrives in a normal car, however when she gets out she walks up to the driver’s window (as if to talk), however the car drives off. She is wearing very dark clothes, and has her hair over her face. The mis-en-scene leads us to believe that she is an “emo” and is very isolated and unpopular. Later in the film she begins to talk, and tricks Claire into revealing that she is a virgin. She reveals that she is a Kleptomaniac and she hates her parents because they ignore her. She is very similar to Andy and their parents are similar too. Towards the end of the film Claire gives her a “make-over”, showing us that she is really the same as everyone else. She also shows her feelings for Andy.
Bender “the Criminal” arrives by himself unlike the rest of the characters. He is wearing a long coat, jeans, and bikers boots. The mis-en-scene makes the audience think that he is a rebel and is an anarchist. From the very beginning he makes fun of the other characters and annoys them. He constantly argues with the head teacher (Mr Vern) who is supervising the students. He also has a big hatred of Andy and Claire. In one point of the film Mr Vern locks him in the Janitor’s closet and proves to him that he is not as tough as he thinks. Later in the film he says that he is from a very rough and poor family. His parents also ignore him. At the end of the film he accepts his feelings for Claire, even though she represents everything he hates. He tries to act tough, but we realise that he too, is just like the rest of the characters.
All of the characters bond together by the end of the film and they realise that they are all the same. The moral of the story is very important and will affect everyone forever. In the end Brian writes: “You see us as you want to see us, in the most simplest terms, in the most convenient definitions. But what we found out was that each one of us is a Brain, and an Athlete, and a Basket-case, a Princess and a Criminal”. We learn after watching this film, that stereotypes are inaccurate and unfair. Stereotyping can also trap one, putting them in positions they hate. This film ultimately proves that the differences between us are much smaller than we think.
