Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. (2023)

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. (2023). Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.: Directed by Kelly Fremon Craig. With Abby Ryder Fortson, Rachel McAdams, Kathy Bates, Benny Safdie. When her family moves from the city to the suburbs, 11-year-old Margaret navigates new friends, feelings, and the beginning of adolescence.

“As a guy in his fifties I have seen a lot and I mean a lot of films about dudes coming of age. And while a few women coming of age films have crossed my path none have been as good as Are You There God? Itu0026#39;s Me, Margaret. Most movies studios are run by men and even when a woman manages to get the top spot she does nothing to shake up the kinds of fare put out there. So congrats to Lionsgate for bankrolling the adaptation of this book.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWhat makes the picture stand out is itu0026#39;s dealing with preteen girls and their sexual confusion, not just about boys but about their own bodies. I can think of few films to actually deal with getting your period. The pics that even address it usually bring it up as a source of gross out humor. Iu0026#39;m also hard pressed to think of the last film I saw where a young woman had to deal with getting a bra for the first time. This is stuff every young woman must go through but itu0026#39;s seldom seen in cinema. Or at the very least, in most flicks Iu0026#39;ve seen. And I see a lot of them.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe whole issue of her religion and what she should believe in is also handled excellently. This is a dynamite script but it would be nowhere without the performers. Everyone puts in a fantastic performance, most especially the lead, Abby Ryder Fortson.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe direction is also crisp and to the point. If I have any issues at all itu0026#39;s that I think the character of the father is under used but I guess this is really Margaret and her momu0026#39;s story. Which, you know, fair enough.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eI hope everyone with a preteen daughter seeu0026#39;s this. In a sane country it would be shown in schools but the book itu0026#39;s self is banned in some districts so thatu0026#39;s not going to happen. Which really is to our nations shame.”