Last week, in my creative writing class, we did lists. I don’t know about my students, but I had a really good time, and I decided that this month, I will post lots of fun lists on my blog! So here’s the first one – my very personal, totally biased top ten movies about women writers, in no particular order.
I recently bought the DVD to this because it seems so relevant to my life right now. In this story two college roommates remain friends although their lives diverge greatly. The Jacqueline Bissest character becomes a critically acclaimed writer, while the Candace Bergen character marries a wealthy man, wears fur, and starts a family. Then, one day, the Bergen character decides to write a book, which becomes a bestseller…
2. Leonie
Her son, the Japanese-American sculptor Isamu Noguchi is better known, but Leonie Gilmour was a writer in her own right, publishing pieces about Japan in the New York Times, and helping the caddish Yone Noguchi, father of Isamu, edit and publish his book, The American Diary of a Japanese Girl, in English. Beautifully filmed and superbly acted by Emily Mortimer, Leonie is a compelling story of a fascinating woman.
3. Sylvia
The life of the American poet (and expat) Sylvia Plath as portrayed by American (and expat) Gwyneth Paltrow.
4. Young Adult
This is Diablo Cody’s follow-up to Juno, starring Charlize Theron as a struggling YA novelist. I saw this on the plane last summer on the way to America. I thought it was really funny, and I want to see it again.
5. Miss Potter
Who knew that the creator of Peter Rabbit lived such a tragic and bohemian life? I’d always imagined her as a virginal school teacher type.
A moody retelling of the night that Mary Shelley thought up Frankenstein. Also starring Hugh Grant, before he became famous.
A moody retelling of the Bronte sisters’ literary struggles and successes. In French!
This film isn’t really about writing, but it is about the writer, Isak Dinesen, aka Karen Blixen. And Africa!
Just for fun. A romance writer gets swept up in a jungle adventure in South America …and by the young Michael Douglas.
The life of the flamboyant author of Gone With the Wind as portrayed by Shannon Doherty.
What’s your favorite movie about a woman writer?
Gaijin Mama 