IF you've read anything by Elena Ferrante, you'll know the pseudonymous Italian author is an expert at capturing the complexities of womanhood. This is exactly what drew Maggie Gyllenhaal to her writing. 'I never heard some of the things that she was writing about articulated before, and I found it really kind of stunning and shocking,' she says.
The famously reclusive author granted permission for the adaptation of The Lost Daughter on the basis that only Maggie could direct it. 'She said it had to be me, which I took as a real vote of confidence,' Maggie says. 'I needed that at the time.' It's evident that Ferrante made a prescient choice: Maggie has turned the author's third novel into a cinematic masterpiece. As a woman director, she is able to capture Leda's experience with unflinching honesty.
'Since there aren't nearly enough women directing, aspects of our experience aren't going to be expressed,' Maggie says. 'I mean, there are men who observe us very well but there are also going to be blind spots, so these personal experiences won't be expressed until women are the people making the movies.'
The Lost Daughter is not only Maggie's first film screenplay, but it's also her feature film directorial debut. The psychological drama centres on Leda, a middle-aged divorced mother who takes a solo vacation on a Greek island, where her interactions with fellow holidaymakers cause her to confront her difficult past. The film was released in select cinemas and on Netflix in the US in December 2021, and has been making waves ever since, winning Maggie the Directors Guild America Award for Best First-Time Feature and bagging Best Picture, Best Screenplay, Breakthrough Director and Outstanding Performance (for Olivia Colman) at the Gotham Awards. Maggie even received an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay - an incredible feat considering this was her first attempt at screenwriting.
Denne historien er fra July/August 2022-utgaven av Fairlady.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra July/August 2022-utgaven av Fairlady.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
(Late) BLOOMING lovely
I've had an epiphany about the joy of getting older. And yes, you can go ahead and yell, it's about time we called midlife what it is: late blooming!
A fairy tale AMONG THE VINES
What sold me on Riquewihr? Was it the colourful, half-timbered houses? The pictureperfect vineyards? The fact that it's one of the villages that inspired Beauty and the Beast? Yes, yes and (a loud, resounding) yes.
THE SECOND act
The idea of starting a new career later in life may seem daunting but it's not impossible. These four women have proven that it's never too late to reinvent yourself.
MENOPAUSE UPDATE 2025
Flawed studies, a 'critical HT window', vaginal oestrogen, testosterone supplementation and restricted eating are among a rash of hot topics emerging for women gingerly negotiating menopause. Here's what we know now.
9 unconventional WAYS TO SHAKE OFF STRESS
Try these sciencebacked strategies and everyday tips to dial down your body's stress response.
KERI SHOWS HER GOOD SIDE
Keri Russell's portrayal of Kate Wyler in The Diplomat, her first substantial TV role since the Soviet spy drama The Americans, finds her switching sides, starring as a savvy civil servant tasked with upholding America's reputation abroad.
I have prophetic dreams
Do you ever wonder what lies beyond the threshold of life, or whether our loved ones who have passed on find ways to communicate with us? I've had vivid dreams and unsettling premonitions that blur the lines between the world we know and the one beyond. I'm not sure whether it's a blessing or a burden.
Pride of INDIA
Drawing inspiration from India's rich heritage, these entrepreneurs are driving innovation in our design industry and supporting under-resourced communities.
THE RISE OF THERAPY SPEAK
Therapy speak - or psychological terminology – is on the rise. While it gives us more language to protect our peace, it can also be a destructive force in our friendships and relationships. Here's why.
Lights, camera, CAPE TOWN
South Africa is the filming destination for quite a few Marvel blockbusters, and one of the most successful liveaction series based on manga in the world. At the vanguard of this revolution is Marisa Sonemann-Turner, head of production at Film Afrika.
