Australian
Screen

Teacher’s notes

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This clip shows Jimmy (Heath Ledger) at a beach anxiously waiting to deliver an important envelope. He is tempted by the ocean and the lure of a girl, so he buries the envelope and goes for a swim. A dramatic voice-over by the narrator warns that his decision will have disastrous consequences. When Jimmy surfaces he notices that his place on the sand has been disturbed. He rushes to the spot to find the envelope gone and violently accuses another bather of its theft.

Educational value points

• The narration, music and cinematography provide context for Jimmy’s future troubles. As Jimmy furtively buries the envelope, the narrator’s ominous tone and obvious maxims about chaos theory ('Sometimes small things can magnify themselves into big things’) and the conspiratorial, urgent musical score suggest that there will be serious consequences for the decision Jimmy has made.

• The shots of Jimmy hiding the envelope in the sand, the warning sign, the sudden flight of birds and the young people watching him are edited to indicate exactly what will happen. The editing of the three shots in linear succession unambiguously shows the action (burying the envelope), the risk (possible theft) and the threat (the watchful youngsters) and succinctly informs the viewer that the young people are probably going to steal the buried envelope.

• The intense lighting of the beach before Jimmy enters the water conveys the heat – physical and metaphorical – and the unforgiving nature of the setting. Heat is a key motivator for Jimmy’s actions in the clip. Moreover, the lighting of the beach represents it as a place where nothing can be hidden and the ramifications of that are direct and brutal. The lighting changes while Jimmy is underwater, representing a brief respite from that reality.

• The musical score reflects Jimmy’s changing situation. The initial jazz sounds of saxophone and xylophone are as breezy and untroubled as the beach scene appears to be. That music fades to be replaced by the enticing sounds of the surf and frolicking people. The music returns to rhythmically urge Jimmy into the water. As the clip concludes the sounds of percussion and urgent violins emphasise Jimmy’s panicked state.

• The underwater scene marks a transition in the sequence. Accompanied by the narrator’s warning about making the wrong choice, Jimmy’s brief immersion may be seen as a moment out of time. The swirling water above him may allude to his inner turmoil, while his wide-open eyes looking directly at the camera are questioning. When he abruptly resurfaces, it is into a world where his life has changed dramatically.

• The tone of the narration is moralising, perhaps in part because the narrator is Jimmy’s brother, who has been killed by a gangster. When Jimmy is about to enter the water the narrator warns: 'One careless decision can affect the way the rest of your life can unfold …’. Similarly, the young people are warned about taking the low road or the high road. The omniscient narrator hints at the consequences of the protagonists’ actions and signals that all may not end well for Jimmy.

Jimmy stands at the edge of the water at Bondi Beach, letting the waves run over his feet. He goes to sit on the sand, glancing at his watch and watching everyone in the water. His interest is sparked by a young woman in a bikini. He begins to dig a hole in the sand.
Narrator Sometimes small things can magnify themselves into big things. The flap of a butterfly wing can turn itself into a raging tornado.

Jimmy discreetly buries an envelope containing $10,000 in the sand.
Narrator A tiny little ripple can end up as a devastating tidal wave.

A sign reads ‘Thieves go to the beach too … Keep your belongings safe.’ Helen and Pete sit on concrete steps, watching Jimmy undress.
Narrator One careless decision can affect the way the rest of your life will unfold.

Jimmy dives into the water.
Narrator The trick is to think very hard before you take the high road or the low road…

Helen and Pete run down the steps as Jimmy swims underwater.
Narrator …because the wrong choice can really fuck you up – big time.

Jimmy surfaces and turns to look at his belongings on the beach. There is a hole in the sand where he buried the money. Panicked, he runs out of the water. He digs in the sand, spraying it all over a young man sunbaking.
Jimmy Did you see someone go through me stuff?
Sunbaking man Sorry?
Jimmy leans over the man, violently pulling his book away from his face.
Jimmy Someone stole me fucking stuff. Did you see someone go through it?
Sunbaking man No, I didn’t see anything.
Jimmy grabs the man’s backpack and shakes it out. The man backs away. People look on.
Jimmy Shit!