Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. [DVD]

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In 1970, eleven-year-old Margaret Simon is informed by her parents Barbara and Herb and paternal grandmother Sylvia that the family of three is moving from New York City to a New Jersey suburb, as Herb has received a promotion. Margaret is upset about moving away from her friends and Sylvia. She soon begins to communicate with God about her concerns, anxieties, and hopes. Gyarkye, Lovia (April 20, 2023). " 'Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret' Review: Rachel McAdams in a Judy Blume Adaptation That Was Worth the Wait". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 20, 2023 . Retrieved April 20, 2023. For spring break, Margaret wants to visit Sylvia while she is vacationing in Florida, but these plans are interrupted when Paul and Mary reach out to Barbara and say they want to visit and meet Margaret. Upon learning of the cancellation, Sylvia decides to show up at the Simon house with a friend from Florida on the same day of Paul and Mary's visit. King, Aidan (May 30, 2023). " Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret Gets Digital & Blu-ray Release Dates". Collider . Retrieved June 11, 2023. The film also shares an honest quality with Blume's book. It's still rare, for example, to see a character putting on a sanitary pad on screen. They're usually a source of horror comedy, if seen at all. "That scene was electric to film," says Craig, "It felt like we were throwing off shame and embarrassment."

Judy Blume's books – more than 25 novels for children and adults – are often celebrated for their openness about sex, menstruation, bullying and other teenage concerns, but if this was their sole strength, it's doubtful people would feel as deeply about them as they do. Her books are often about young people getting to know themselves and learning how to navigate the world, written with sensitivity, compassion and an acute understanding of the things teenagers worry about. Showcase and Showcase Cinema de Lux are owned and operated by National Amusements, Inc., a world leader in the motion picture exhibition industry operating 839 screens in the US, UK, Argentina and Brazil. National Amusements delivers a superior entertainment experience in cinemas around the world under its Showcase, Multiplex, Showcase Cinema de Lux and UCI brands. Based in Massachusetts, National Amusements is a closely held company operating under the third generation of leadership by the Redstone family. National Amusements is the parent company of Paramount Global. It's easy to see why Craig feels that way. The book meant so much to so many people when they were growing up. "Reading Margaret was hugely helpful in my childhood," Alison Michael, who co-hosts the Blume Saloon podcast with Jody Worthington, tells BBC Culture. For the past six years they have been rereading Blume's oeuvre and reflecting on her work. Growing up, says Michael, "I didn't have a tonne of people to ask these questions of and reading the book, while having the same questions as Margaret about religion and periods, was really affirming." a b Hammond, Pete (April 20, 2023). " Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret Review: Judy Blume's Classic Book On Screen After 50 Years Is Well Worth The Wait". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 20, 2023 . Retrieved April 20, 2023.

Margaret and her new friends anticipate the milestones of puberty, such as wearing a bra and having their first kisses. At classmate Norman Fischer's birthday party, Margaret enjoys her first kiss with Philip Leroy, a popular boy in her class, during a game of spin the bottle. She also attends respective church masses with Janie and Nancy. After viewing a video about menstruation at school, the girls become excited about starting their periods. Margaret grows impatient when other girls get their periods before her, including Gretchen and Nancy. A charming, honest and fresh look at the reality of being a preteen girl, Blume’s story may be over 50 years old, but such a candid portrayal of prepubescent life was well overdue on the big screen. The female perspectives of the author and of director Kelly Fremon Craig make the storytelling all the more authentic, especially when coupled with the strong performances of the protagonists. The leading ladies represent three generations of womanhood (Forston as young Margaret, McAdams as an art teacher and stay-at-home mum, and grandma Sylvia as a senior enjoying a second youth), thus giving an well-rounded picture of what each phase of life can bring. After dinner, when Paul and Mary question Margaret about possibly attending Sunday school, Sylvia retorts that Margaret went to temple with her and has already chosen to become Jewish, sparking an argument between the parents and grandparents. Margaret yells at the adults, proclaiming that she does not care about religion and does not even believe in God. Though it's Ralph that most people remember, Forever's message – that a first sexual experience can be fun, awkward but ultimately positive, and that first love does not always equate true love – still feels necessary and relevant. A Netflix series based on the book is on the cards. Craig was also nervous about filming the scene where Margaret and her friends perform their bust-increasing exercises. "That's the thing everybody remembers from the book, so filming it was a big deal. I knew we had to get that right."

I am such a fan of the book and such a fan of Judy. It was important to me to do right by her, to make a film that felt like a reflection of her and the spirit of her book," Craig says, describing the moment when Blume gave her the rights as "wildly surreal".Sneider, Jeff (April 7, 2021). "Exclusive: Benny Safdie Joins Rachel McAdams in 'Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret' Movie". Collider. Archived from the original on April 7, 2021 . Retrieved April 7, 2021.

Review: Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret". Time. April 28, 2023. Archived from the original on April 28, 2023 . Retrieved May 8, 2023. Fleming, Mike Jr. (March 2, 2020). "Lionsgate Wins Movie Auction For Seminal Judy Blume Novel 'Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret' ". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 30, 2020 . Retrieved January 21, 2023.Banting, Rodlyn-mae (April 26, 2023). " 'Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret' Takes the Messiness of Girlhood Seriously". Jezebel. Archived from the original on May 7, 2023 . Retrieved May 8, 2023. Lewis, Hilary (October 24, 2023). " 'Past Lives,' 'A Thousand and One' and 'All of Us Strangers' Top Gotham Awards Film Nominees". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved November 14, 2023. A beloved and best-selling classic comes to the big screen with Lionsgate’s adaptation of Judy Blume’s Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. Starring Rachel McAdams, Kathy Bates, and Abby Ryder Fortson as Margaret, this timeless, coming-of-age story has transcended decades and spoken to generations. At 11, Margaret is moving to a new town and beginning to contemplate everything about life, friendship, and adolescence. She relies on her mother (McAdams), who offers loving support but is herself finding her own footing in a new place, and her grandmother Sylvia (Bates), who is coming to terms with finding happiness in the next phase of her life. For all three, questions of identity, one’s place in the world, and what brings meaning to a life will draw them closer together than ever before.

Rankin, Seija (February 19, 2021). "Rachel McAdams and Abby Ryder Fortson join the Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret movie". People. Archived from the original on February 19, 2021 . Retrieved February 19, 2021. a b D'Alessandro, Anthony (April 30, 2023). " 'Super Mario Bros' Swallowing Up 'Margaret', 'George Foreman' & More – Box Office". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 29, 2023 . Retrieved April 30, 2023.Prompted by her school assignment, Margaret asks her mother why she has never met her maternal grandparents. Barbara reveals that she is estranged from her devoutly Christian parents Paul and Mary, who disowned her upon her marriage to a Jewish man. On a weekend visit to New York City, Margaret asks Sylvia to take her to temple, which Sylvia gladly does. Meanwhile, Barbara attempts to fit in with the PTA and signs up for multiple committees, which draws her away from her hobby of painting and teaching art. Nicholson, Amy (April 20, 2023). " Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret Review: An Appealing But Edgeless Adaptation of a Coming-of-Age Classic". Variety. Archived from the original on April 20, 2023 . Retrieved April 20, 2023. Anderson, Erik (June 30, 2023). "Hollywood Critics Association 2023 Midseason HCA Awards: 'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,' 'Past Lives,' 'Air' are Top Winners". AwardsWatch . Retrieved November 14, 2023.