“Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret.” is a touching (and surprisingly brilliant) portrait of the insecurities, awkwardness, and growing pains that forged our pre-teen childhood experiences from “The Edge of Seventeen” Writer/Director Kelly Fremon Craig. While it contains some of the coming-of-age tropes you’d expect from a story like this, the emotional core of the film, lifted by the excellent cast (particularly the film’s leading lady, Abby Ryder Fortson), is too palpable to ignore.
Every year, we get more than a handful of coming-of-age films by filmmakers with various skills. Yet, for some reason, most of them end up feeling uninspired due to their over-reliance on the subgenre’s tropes and contrivances. They also lack a grasp of the project’s purpose — the reasoning for its existence outside of telling a story about the director’s life (or one inspired by childhood experiences). Of course, it is not easy making a film that depicts the angst and anxieties of a youngling, especially since there’s too much ground to cover, both in terms of the growing pains and stages.
Kelly Fremon Craig Returns to the Big Screen
When these types of films work, they are a thing of beauty because they can tap into what we have all experienced — presenting it in a manner in which we can relate. They can also guide the kids going through those changes appearing on-screen who are dealing with the same situations, feeling those emotions, or feel lost about the meaning of life. One of the few filmmakers that have a great grasp on the topics and has managed to curate them into palpable and empathetic pictures that remain with their feet on the ground is Kelly Fremon Craig. In her 2016 feature-length directorial debut, “The Edge of Seventeen,” the American filmmaker delivered a smartly-observed teen drama that speaks to self-loathing Internet kids who haven’t figured out how they fit into this vast world, where things change each second and the strongest bonds crumble.
Fremon Craig smartly observed the behavior of girls the same age as the film’s lead, Nadine Franklin (Hailee Steinfeld). Craig created scenarios from which others would relate and learn from. She generates intricate moments filled with honesty and wisdom while also depicting the messiness of how life feels at that point in time. It was honestly surprising; the film got better the more you rewatched and talked about it. Seven years after her brilliant debut, Kelly Fremon Craig returns to the big screen to do yet another feature that captures the anxieties and awkwardness of growing up. However, this time around, she is tackling a different (and younger) age group. She even has a source material to base her writings around: Judy Blume’s acclaimed and highly influential 1970 book, “Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret.”
Bringing Judy Blume’s Novel to Life
Rachel McAdams, Abby Ryder Fortson, and Benny Safdie in “Are You There God?” It’s Me, Margaret. (Photo Credit: Dana Hawley).
Blume revolutionized what all of us call Young Adult (YA) literature. She spoke the truth about subjects that adults (primarily parents) make it hard for kids to ask about — puberty, menstruation, fitting in, religion, and everything in-between such topics. The aforementioned book is brought to life via Craig’s heartfelt vision and her delicate directorial hand, with light comedic touches. It ends as an essential film for younger audiences who feel they are going through their struggles of aging alone. “Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret.” follows an 11-year-old girl named Margaret Simon (played by a young star in the making, Abby Ryder Fortson) as she gets home from summer camp to some entirely unexpected news that will shake her world thoroughly.
Her father, Herb (Benny Safdie), has earned a job promotion. Because of such, they have to move from New York City to New Jersey, leaving her beloved grandmother, Sylvia (Kathy Bates), behind. The move takes a bit of an emotional toll on her. Sooner rather than later, she joins a 6th-grade clique led by the wealthy Nancy (Elle Graham), alongside Gretchen (Katherine Kupferer) and Janie (Amari Price). In the secret club, Nancy begins to translate her preoccupation with boys, periods, bras, and changing bodies onto Margaret. The group isn’t entirely supportive of each other. For the most part, they gossip, shame, and critique others, with Nancy pointing out every flaw. With Margaret and Nancy’s relationship, Kelly Fremon Craig develops a true-to-life vision of friendship that has its glance in the 1970s but can be applied (or envisioned) in today’s generation.
A Highly-Relatable Film
There might be some coming-of-age conventions within the situations that transpire during their conjoined journey. Yet, Fremon Craig creates some sincere and touching moments that express the highs and lows of puberty. With the help of the fantastic and charming cast, those scenes are the key to “Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret’s.” success and its strong emotional core. It helps younger audiences resonate with these scenes. In addition, older ones reminisce in ways that don’t feel manipulative or reluctant on constant reflection. Countless American girls grew up with Judy Blume’s book back in the day. And it is impressive that, to this day, it remains impactful and relatable to them. It’s beautiful to experience these types that work on several levels, even when you don’t think it will at first glance.
Kathy Bates in “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.” (Photo Credit: Dana Hawley).
On the one hand, it was “meant” to target a specific audience. Still, on the other end, it culminates as a highly relatable film. What’s the main reason for its success? Fremon Craig and Blume honestly depict the anxieties, awkwardness, and insecurities we all face during our younger days. There’s this constant delightful aura in the film’s atmosphere. You can’t help but smile or be entirely swayed by it. I wasn’t expecting much from this film, even though I love the director’s previous work. The trailers didn’t sell the story to me. However, having watched the movie and spent a few days thinking about it, “Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret.” has grown on me because of how this cast and crew slowly build touching moments that end up moving you more than you might expect.
Looking Forward to its VOD Release
Unfortunately, this film isn’t a big Box Office success. Yet, I hope that when it reaches VOD, people get a chance to see it and bask in the naturalistic and raw emotional aspects that Fremon Craig and Blume concoct in unison.
“Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.” is currently only available to watch in theaters.
