Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret hits the big screen
Beloved by children and adults, Judy Blume's teen angst classic is a movie at last
Brigit Grant is the Jewish News Supplements Editor
It has taken over fifty years, but Judy Blume’s classic and groundbreaking novel Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret has finally made it to the screen. The book that impacted generations with its timeless coming of age story, insightful humor, and candid exploration of life’s biggest questions as faced by 11-year-old Margaret has been produced by Oscar winner James L. Brooks, Julie Ansell, and most importantly Judy Blume herself who takes a writing credit for her book, which has been adapted for the screen by Kelly Fremon Craig who is also the director.
Margaret is played by 14-year-old Abby Ryder Fortson who plays Paul Rudd‘s daughter in the Ant-Man franchise and she is joined by Rachel McAdams who plays her mother, Barbara and Kathy Bates who stars as the adoring Jewish grandmother who isn’t happy when the family leave New York city for a life in the suburbs of New Jersey. The messy and difficult years of puberty along with new friends in a new school are the problems Margaret encounters which feature in the book, which in the decades since its publication has often made been put on the list of banned and restricted books in America because of its honest depictions of religion, puberty and sexuality. The film also stars Benny Safdie of Licorice Pizza who plays Margaret’s Jewish father, Herbert Simon. The family don’t practice any form of organised religion, but Margaret as the title suggests talks to God frequently and is both curious and conflicted about faith.
With her Jewish grandmother pushing her towards Judaism and her maternal grandparents estranged because their daughter married outside their Christian faith, Judy Blume almost provided a manual to guide young readers through similar situations.
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret will open in April in the US with UK release dates to follow.
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