While you readers might have a general idea of who our main character is, I have yet to really do a deep dive into what makes Betty who she is. She is a very special, smart girl and I feel like if you are going to understand what our film opening is about then you must understand Betty. While I would say we do have three main characters, I think Betty would be the most primary since she is the first character audiences are introduced to and she gives a voiceover.
Physically, Betty is an African-American 17-year-old girl who lives in a small town where news gets around quick. We always knew Betty would be 17, our age, but her ethnic background really depended on who we could get to play the role. For most of the opening, she wears a pretty typical outfit for a teenage girl. This costume features a light pink long-sleeve shirt and a pair of blue jeans. Pretty normal for an all-American girl! She also wears a simple white shirt as her pajama in the beginning of the room scene.
Mentally, Betty has gone through a lot. While she is a smart, talented girl from a loving family whose life seems perfect, she went through the hardest thing a teenage girl might go through. Heartbreak. Last summer, James cheated on Betty with August and completely ruined their relationship. As a young girl, Betty's mother always told her that men could never be trusted. Betty takes this advice seriously because she wants nothing to do with James and no longer trusts him. She doesn't even try giving him another chance and rejects him at her doorway, not wanting to speak any longer. While Betty isn't the most confident, outgoing, popular girl of the town, she is definitely very strong and who won't let herself be manipulated.
She speaks to the audience pretty dramatically, but also openly. She wants to tell us the story of what happened almost as if the audience is her friend. On the other hand, she is very closed off with James. They barely speak to each other and when he tries to reach out, Betty rejects him completely. She also speaks in a very annoyed, angry tone.
There are many props around the scene that correlate with Betty's personality and what she is going through. For one, the memories Betty has with James are scattered around the room (photographs, letters, teddy bears). Obviously, Betty wants nothing to do with James, which can be seen by how the bear is stuffed in a trash can and the love letter is ripped up. It can also be seen that Betty cares about her appearance, since she is shown applying makeup to herself before starting the day.
I don't think Betty knows what she wants or her intentions. While she has convinced herself that she doesn't want to be with James anymore, she obviously still has feelings for him by how she reacts to James' arrival. She is a little lost, which makes sense because the boy she loved so deeply completely violated her trust and their love. I think this movie, if it were fully completed, would follow Betty's growth and how she reaches some sort of closure, whether it be single or with James.
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