Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret?
Judy Blume’s classic guide for navigating pre-teen anxieties, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret?, has received the film adaptation treatment helmed by coming-of-age expert Kelly Fremon Craig. Fremon Craig delivers one of the few truthful onscreen depictions of entering the teen years fueled by vulnerability and nuance.
Eleven-year-old Margaret is informed by her parents that they will be leaving the only place she’s ever known for the suburbs of New Jersey. This is the first big change of her life and it was decided without her present. She has left behind her grandmother in New York as she is instantly welcomed into a new group of friends whose main priorities are bras and boys. Margaret becomes overwhelmed with her new environment on top of rushing to grow up and the internal conflict of religion. Abby Ryder Fortson is perfect as young Margaret as she welcomes a world of uncertainty amongst her peers’ own growth.
The interactions between Fortson and the other girls her age are truly magical. Puberty doesn’t have to be all tears as the dynamic of the girl group allows for moments of comedic relief that are wholesome. One moment shows the girls opening a Playboy magazine immediately cutting to them doing an exercise to increase their bust. These scenes are never meant to be making fun of them, but Fremon Craig put a lot of compassion into their journeys of womanhood. It is not all sunshine for them as there are cruel moments included because children are capable of being cruel.
While the story is famous for its themes of approaching adulthood, the film shines when it focuses on the meaning of life. The utilization of the relationships in Margaret’s life provides layers to the young girl in her search for meaning whether it is the emotional relationship with her mom or the comedic relief between her school friends. Rachel McAdams playing her mother, Barbara, is always supportive of her daughter while battling her own mess. The film departs the book by giving Barbara more material that is an excellent look into how the decisions of adults can affect their kids. McAdams is the bright light of this story. Fremon Craig is able to capture Blume’s gift of creating a story that is meant for people of all ages by her insight into the stakes of different characters in the film and treating them all with respect. No one’s problem is demeaned as unimportant and no matter the age they are never talked down to.
The 1970'‘s childhood of Margaret is textured and lived in as the production team has the time of their lives recreating this period of time. Most adaptations would have placed this story in the modern era, but keeping the 1970s makes it feel timeless and avoids the distractions that come with the 21st century. Steve Saklad and Ann Roth collaborate on costumes and production designs that are warm and believable emulating the nostalgia of childhood.
As exemplified in her work, Kelly Fremon Craig has a gift for bringing girlhood to life onscreen with a layer of emotional intelligence that makes her films timeless and iconic.