Although overall it was a relatively good year for cinema, Kelly Fremon Craigtouching coming-of-age dramedy Are you God there? It’s me, Margaret has established itself as a future classic that generations of young viewers can watch with their parents as a guide to growing up. While Craig’s debut film Edge of Seventeen showed her ability to capture youth culture in all its joy and sorrow, she was not the only reason why Are you God there? It’s me, Margaret so effective; The film is based on the cult novel of the same name. Judy Bloom. While Bloom’s career and the impact of her work was evident to the generation that grew up with her novels, some viewers may not know how important she really was. However, they were lucky, because a highly informative documentary Judy Bloom forever available on Amazon Prime Video after receiving good reviews at the Sundance Film Festival. Are you God there? And Judy Bloom forever make for a perfect dual function.
Are you God there? It’s me, Margaret completely upended literary culture with her unfiltered but perfectly accurate description of the experience of a young girl growing up and going through all the thrills, fears and challenges of puberty. The film doesn’t change this honest approach, nor does it change the setting of the 1970s; it follows Margaret (Abby Ryder Fortson), a high school student forced to move from New York when her parents Barbara (Rachel McAdams) and grass (Benny Safdie) decide to move to New Jersey. The film’s ability to deal with mature themes seems like a change of pace from what children typically see today, but this wasn’t the first time Bloom had broken barriers; as the documentary shows, at the time of its release, her work was groundbreaking in the way she showed a female point of view.
“Judy Bloom Forever” provides the context for “Are You There, God?” It’s me, Margaret
If the film version Are you here God? It’s me, Margaret seems a rarity in an era of cinema where coming-of-age dramas from major studios are few and far between, it’s important to realize that the book has even been isolated. There has simply never been a book before that discusses sexual identity, female puberty, and a young girl’s struggle to define her religion to ever enter the market. The documentary shows the hardships Bloom faced early in her career in a male-dominated industry that satirized her work and suggested there was no place for her book; after refusals, dismissals and deviations, Are you God there? It’s me, Margaret finally hit the shelves in 1970 and became an instant hit.
The documentary brilliantly explains why the book had such an impact and how reading it became a “rite of passage” - something that bonded mothers and daughters and could be passed down from generation to generation. In the pre-internet era, there was nothing for young people to read about sex and bodily changes, because the American public education system was always unable to accurately describe these issues to children. The heroes of the film are forced to scour the magazines in search of information and exchange secret knowledge with each other. This, of course, leads to situations where Margaret adjusts her expectations in both humiliating and hilarious ways. The film may seem like an exaggeration to modern viewers who weren’t aware of the stigma because they didn’t grow up in that environment, but the documentary shows that it’s simply accurate.
The documentary also reveals elements of Bloom’s life that are key to the story of the film and the novel. Like Margaret, she grew up in New Jersey and faced the same challenges. It’s great to hear Bloom talk about her own experience because the authenticity of her voice and perspective is so important to the film’s success. It also shows the great empathy she had for her readers; Bloom often wrote lengthy letters to her fans, keeping in touch with them over the years and answering a wide range of questions about life, adolescence, puberty, religion, and even writing. This empathy is also inherent to Margaret as a character. She realizes that not everyone is what they seem, and decides to leave her evil, mean, and judgmental friends behind.
Censorship and ban on “Are You There God?” It’s me, Margaret
Are you here God? It’s me, Margaret poor opening weekend box office, with some financial experts blaming the film’s PG-13 rating; despite being clearly aimed at a younger audience, the film received higher ratings due to its depiction of a natural process. A similar controversy occurred recently when Eighth grade was saddled with an R rating, making it impossible for its target audience to see it. This has been an ongoing problem for the MPAA, whose ratings tend to be disproportionately dismissive of films that highlight women and the LGBTQIA+ community. The documentary shows that censorship, bans, and public outcry from conservatives have been a constant problem that Bloom and her work have faced throughout her career.
Are you here God? It’s me, Margaret continues to be banned to this day, and the issue of censorship is more relevant than ever. Judy Bloom forever has a very simple view of literary decisions to be made by individual families; it is perfectly acceptable for a parent to forbid their child to read something, but it is blatantly for them to impose it on others. Let’s hope the movie gets higher status if young girls get a chance to watch it, even if it ends up being kept longer on VOD. As noted in the documentary, Bloom also had a healthy audience among young adults, and the film may also attract male viewers. Even if they are not personally affected by the discussion of female anatomy, they may be related to religious fears or pressure to join social groups.
Watching the two back to back is a great way for those unfamiliar with Bloom’s status, leading to a more informed look. Those who have followed her for quite some time might at least be interested in hearing Bloom speak so directly about her life and career, and will almost certainly love what Craig has created in her adaptation. However, you need to watch the documentary first to make sure you catch Bloom’s cameo in the movie!
Source: Collider
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