A 53-year wait to see a coming-of-age classic on screen
In short: Judy Blume’s seminal 1970 novel has long been a staple of adolescent identity. Despite decades of requests, the film adaptation only arrived in 2023. It captures the messy, honest friction of puberty, religious identity, and the complicated ways parents pass down their own histories to their children.
Directed by Kelly Fremon Craig, the film is a faithful adaptation of the 1970 novel that follows 11-year-old Margaret Simon. Relocating to a New Jersey suburb from New York City, Margaret deals with her private feelings while adjusting to a fresh school's social dynamics. A central conflict arises when her teacher, Mr. Benedict, assigns a research project on religion. Because her mother is Christian and her father is Jewish, the family has historically let Margaret decide her own path, a dynamic that creates significant tension when her grandparents arrive.
The narrative explores the weight of inherited history. Margaret discovers her mother was disowned by her devoutly Christian parents for marrying a Jewish man, illustrating how personal choices can fracture families across generations. This backstory informs the film's exploration of religious identity, culminating in a heated argument where Margaret eventually declares her disillusionment with organized religion. The story also captures the specific anxieties of puberty, including the social pressures of menstruation and the nuances of female friendship, highlighting the 'all-too-realistic' flaws of adolescence.
The production was a significant undertaking, with principal photography taking place in North Carolina in 2021. Despite a $30 million budget, the film grossed approximately $21.5 million worldwide. While it faced a challenging opening weekend against major blockbusters, it received widespread critical acclaim, earning a 99% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics praised the film for its 'effervescent' tone and its ability to flesh out the adult characters while maintaining the earnestness of the original source material.
The film's success lies in its refusal to sanitize the experience of growing up. By keeping the setting in the 1970s, the production preserves the period-accurate milestones of the novel. It serves as a study of human achievement in its smallest form: the navigation of self-discovery, the reconciliation of family secrets, and the eventual acceptance of one's own evolving identity.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. (film)
- Also: Wikidata — Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret · CC0
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