ARE YOU THERE, GOD? IT’S ME, MARGARET

US, 2023, 106 minutes, Colour.

Abby Ryder Fortson, Rachel McAdams, Kathy Bates, Benny Safdie, Elle Graham, Amari Alexis Price, Echo Kellum.

Directed by Kelly Craig

This was the title of the very popular novel from 1970, written by Judy Blume. It has continued to be popular, especially with the young readers. 50 years later it is now become a popular film, well reviewed.

The Margaret of the title at the opening of the film is aged 11, having to move to New Jersey from New York, missing her friends. However, as she grows older, she makes many more friends, school, all kinds of issues as the girls near puberty, especially anticipation of their period. In this way, the film will speak to young girls in the audience of this age.

However, Margaret also speaks to God, conversation, requests, puzzles, losing faith in him, questioning, ultimately regaining faith and making communication again.

Margaret also has a challenging faith background, her Christian mother, played well by Rachel McAdams, her father, played by writer-director, Benny safety is Jewish. And Kathy Bates is present as a strong-minded grandmother.

With the difficulties, Margaret is it helped by one of her teachers, Mr Benedict, who listens to her questions and suggests that her year research be on religion, religious issues, different faiths.

This makes the film is significant for the younger audiences, especially the girls in the audience, identifying with Margaret, but having the possibility of opening up their own religious issues as they watch the film.

Abby Ryder Fortson is persuasive as Margaret.

1. The popular book by Judy Blume, 1970s, popular for half a century, the film version?
2. The New York City setting is, the New Jersey settings, the suburbs, homes, school, outings, celebrations? The range of songs from the 1970s, tone, comment?
3. The New York situation, Margaret, 11, happy at school, returning from the camp, her loving parents, her father’s promotion, Sylvia present, her attitude, breaking the news of the move, her parents’ reaction, Margaret’s reaction, Sylvia always sardonic?
4. Margaret’s reaction, not wanting to move, also friends? The transition, the farewell, arriving in New Jersey, the atmosphere, the house?
5. Margaret at 11, no brothers or sisters, devotion to her grandmother, no mention of her mother’s parents, the religious issue, Jewish or Christian, leaving it for Margaret to decide? Her image of God? End of primary school, grade 6? Expectations?
6. Nancy and her arrival, confident, taking over, invitation to Margaret, at school, the next desk, Mr Benedict, the attention to Philip, despising of Norman, criticisms of Laura? Nancy in the club, the creating the rules, the 11-year-old’s perspective, boys, secrecy, wearing a bra, no sox (and Margaret’s blisters)? The meetings, the gossip, the giggling, the issue of wearing a bra, the chant for the bust? Nancy’s brother and Moose breaking in? Margaret and her attraction to Moose, his mowing the lawns?’
7. Barbara, loving mother, absent parents? The story of the parents, evangelical, condemning her for marrying and you? Margaret asking the questions, Barbara telling the story, sending the card, their reply, the coming to visit, the clash with the visit to Florida for Sylvia? Sylvia and her friend arriving? The interactions, the meal, the mother being evangelical, Sylvia’s reaction, the fighting? Margaret’s reaction, not believing in God?
8. Margaret, religion, her comments on her paper for Mr Benedict, his discussions with her, her project, her later writing him the letter, his sympathetic ear?
9. The issue of God, the dialogue of the film, Margaret and her manner of discovering God, talking to God, asking whether God was there, the issuance and the various crises, especially about the period, her friends, the boys, the relationship with God? Her going to the revival meeting with Janie? Earlier taking her to the synagogue, its style, Sylvia enjoying the ceremony, Margaret and the Hebrew? Going to the Christian church, the Gospels? Laura, and going to the confessional?
10. The bond with Sylvia, the phone calls, going to Gilbert and Sullivan in the park, invitation to Florida? Sylvia and her life in Florida, the boyfriend, ringing him to New Jersey?
11. The issue of bras, her wanting to buy one, with her mother, the shop? The other girls and the issues? The issue of periods? Gretchen and the suddenness, the reaction? Laura and her lie about her own, then the crisis in the restaurant? Janie is a good friend, buying the pads? And then her own period, with her mother?
12. The preoccupations about sex, the anatomy book and the discussion, the Playboy photos? The reaction to the boys? Nancy and her attitudes, Philip, the game and spin the bottle, Norman’s house, two minutes in the closet, Margaret with Philip, his kiss, and later disillusioned with him? Her attraction to Moose? The visit to radio city music Hall?
13. The portrait of Margaret’s parents, her father, his job, benign, the accident with the mower, easy-going, relationship with his mother? Barbara, always nice, supporting her daughter, supporting her husband, giving up her artwork, teaching, the household, not good at cooking, volunteering for all the committees at the school? The situation with her parents and their visit?
14. Margaret, coming through the trials, going to the camp, rediscovering God?