1A Movie Club: 'Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret'

1A

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4.3 • 4.5K Ratings

🗓️ 5 May 2023

⏱️ 40 minutes

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Summary

Judy Blume's 1970's classic book, "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret." The novel wasn't initially well-received when it was published, being banned in libraries and schools, including the one Blume's children went to.

It follows an 11-year-old Margaret stepping into the world of adolescence (breasts, boys, and periods included) and exploring her religious identity along the way. Her father, Jewish, and her mother, Christian, kept religion out of Margaret's upbringing to allow her to decide her faith for herself.

Now, the story has the film treatment by writer-director Kelly Fremon Craig. For this edition of the 1A Movie Club, we discuss periods, adolescence, and grappling with your identity.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Maybe you were in class and someone pointed out a spot on your jeans when you stood up.
0:14.2	Or one morning you woke up to blood in your bed and got a little spooked.
0:18.2	Minstraining can be a pivotal part of life.
0:20.5	It certainly is, in Judy Bloom's 1970 novel, are you there, God?
0:24.7	It's me Margaret.
0:26.0	The story follows an 11-year-old Margaret stepping into the world of adolescence.
0:30.4	Breasts, boys and periods included.
0:32.4	You're going to have to do the same exercise and technique I do.
0:35.8	Does an exercise?
0:36.8	Of course there is.
0:38.5	You hold your arms out like this and you say, I must.
0:41.2	I must.
0:42.2	I must increase my bust.
0:43.5	I must.
0:44.5	I must.
0:45.5	I must increase my bust.
0:46.5	Does that really work?
0:48.1	I'm living proof.
0:49.1	Now come on, get up.
0:50.4	Get up, get up, get up.
0:52.2	You'll see.
0:53.2	Get up.
	...

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