Character Analysis
(Avoiding Spoilers)
Living… in the San Fernando Valley with her older sisters and parents. Their family is close, and they celebrate Shabbat together every week.
Profession… assistant to a photographer who takes school photos. Holding a mirror and comb, Alana helps students primp before they have their picture taken. Alana is a bit lost professionally, and she’s ready to quit her job. She can’t stand her boss who can’t keep his hands off her butt.
Interests… driving fast, fine dining, and younger men.
Relationship Status… single. Alana is spending time with a charming actor named Gary. The two are drawn to each other, but there’s one big problem: a romantic relationship with him is illegal because he’s only 15. Alana doesn’t let things cross the line, but she enjoys the attention Gary gives her. Alana's partly attracted to Gary because he offers a contrast to her own attitude. Even if he doesn't have it all together yet, Gary confidently tackles the future with such gusto and confidence for somebody so young. As Gary tells her, “I’m not going to forget you. Just like you’re not going to forget me.”
Challenge… navigating the turbulent 70's in California. Like many in their twenties, Alana is lost and she's still searching for how to define her life. She has become Gary's partner-in-crime in a waterbed business venture. And they have their first customer: the boyfriend of Barbara Streisand.
Personality… outspoken, bold, and magnetic. Alana's not afraid of confrontation. She questions a suspicious man outside of a politician's office without flinching. And yet, Alana shows her insecure side when she approaches older men who have influence, power, and money. Even though Alana may think they're talking utter nonsense, like the influential and impulsive actor William Holden, she still entertains their attention and recedes into just a shadow of herself.
