CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC

Movie Activity

SETTING – WHERE/WHEN?
MAIN CHARACTERS

PLOT

MEMORABLE QUOTES

KEY WORDS/EXPRESSIONS RELATED TO SHOPPING

POST-VIEWING ACTIVITY

I. PERSONAL REACTION TO THE FILM – What did you think about the movie?

B. CHARACTERS’ ANALYSIS

1. Who is/are your favorite character(s)? State your reasons.

 CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC

Movie Activity
2. Fill in the following table: (You may add other
columns!)

CHARACTERS’ NAME OCCUPATION MAIN PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAITS

3. Refer to Rebecca’s growth during the film. Does she become a better person? Why?

2. What is the main message of this film?

 CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC

Movie Activity

KEY
Confessions of a Shopaholic is a 2009 film adaptation of the Shopaholic series of novels by Sophie Kinsella
B. Watch the film and check if your predictions were right. Fill in the table.
WHILE-VIEWING ACTIVITY
GENRE Romantic comedy
SETTING – WHERE/WHEN? New York City, 2008
MAIN CHARACTERS
Isla Fisher ... Rebecca Bloomwood
Hugh Dancy ... Luke Brandon
Krysten Ritter ... Suze
Joan Cusack ... Jane Bloomwood
John Goodman ... Graham Bloomwood
John Lithgow ... Edgar West
Kristin Scott Thomas ... Alette Naylor
Fred Armisen ... Ryan Koenig
Leslie Bibb ... Alicia Billington
Lynn Redgrave ... Drunken Lady at Ball
Robert Stanton ... Derek Smeath
PLOT In New York, the journalist and compulsive liar Rebecca
Bloomwood is an addicted consumer that can not resist
Struggling with her debilitating obsession with shopping fashionable clothes and outfits in fancy shops and
shopping and the sudden collapse of her income has several unplayable debts with the credit cards. She dreams
source, Rebecca Bloomwood unintentionally lands a on working in the fashion magazine Alette owned by the
job writing for a financial magazine after a drunken sophisticated Alette Naylor, but she does not succeed in her
intent. When Becky loses her job, she drinks a lot of booze with
letter-mailing mix-up. Ironically writing about the very her best friend Suze and sends an offensive letter to the editor
consumer caution of which she herself has not abided, Luke Brandon from the financial magazine "Successful Saving"
Rebecca's innovative comparisons and unconventional and an article to Alette to show her potential. However, she
unintentionally switches the correspondences in the mailbox
metaphors for economics grants her critical acclaim, and Luke hires her to write a column called "The Girl in the
public success, and the admiration of her supportive Green Scarf" in his magazine using a simple language and
boss Luke. But as she draws closer to her ultimate goal metaphors that could be easily understood by common people.
Meanwhile the debt collector Derek Smeath is chasing Becky
of writing for renowned fashion magazine Alette, she and she is avoiding him everywhere, telling that he is an ex-
questions her true ambitions and must determine if boyfriend that is stalking her. When her column becomes a
overcoming her "shopaholic" condition will bring her success, Becky is invited to participate in a talk show and Luke
real happiness. and she fall in love for each other. However, her lies and debts
put her in a difficult situation with her audience, Suze and Luke.

KEY WORDS/EXPRESSIONS RELATED TO SHOPPING

 Credit Card  Money Problems
 Rich Boyfriend
 Debt Collector
 Clothing Store
 Financial Journalist
 Designer Clothes
 Girl Fight
 Department Store
 Credit Card Debt
addicted consumer, unplayable debts with the credit
 Fantasy Sequence cards, mannequins call to her ,a closet full of clothes and
accessories and a lot of debt, love of shopping, shopping
addiction, changes in credit card terms, a shopping trip,
 CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC

Movie Activity

 Money Management
encouraging more credit card use, sets up a sample sale
 Support Group and auction of her entire wardrobe, to pay off her debt.,
clothing sale, accused of not paying her debts by Derek
 Spending Spree Smeath, bargain sales,
 Resume Fraud
 Shopaholics Anonymous meeting
 Lack Of Money
 Credit Card Declined

 Chick Flick

POST-VIEWING ACTIVITY

I. PERSONAL REACTION TO THE FILM

A. Refer to hilarious situations.

*The scene at the hot-dog stand.

*The interview with the editor Luke Brandon from the financial magazine “Successful Saving.”
*The scenes when Derek Smith tries to contact her personally. (the “unwanted” boyfriend who is
harassing her)

B. CHARACTERS’ ANALYSIS

1. Who is/are your favourite character(s)? State your reasons.

2. Fill in the following table: (You may add other columns!)

CHARACTERS’ NAME OCCUPATION MAIN PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAITS

Rebecca Bloomwood Journalist/ from blue collar parents Shopaholic, dependent, vulnerable,
uncontrolled, addicted, vain, materialistic,
compulsive liar, superficial, eccentric,
brainless, (…) / energetic, friendly,
imaginative, creative, self-assured,
determined, passionate, committed (…)
Luke Brandon Financial Magazine Editor Friendly, simple, unattached, hard-
working, committed, daring, gullible,
dashing and saintly editor.
Suze Roommate/ from a wealthy family Confident, true friend, down to earth,
caring, crazy, voice of reason

3. Refer to Rebecca’s growth throughout the film. Does she become a better person?

C. Did you like watching this film? Why/Why not?

II. THE END
 CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC

Movie Activity

1. Was it expected /unexpected? State

your reasons.

2. What is the main message of this film?

Becky’s shopping is portrayed as a pathological disorder that, just like in the case of other forms of addiction, begins
to destructively intrude on her personal and professional life. This is a film that is completely suitable for the times
and its hopeful message suggests that people can learn the difference between cost and worth. Giving up the
shopping has allowed her time for other things, including a relationship with Luke.