From Kelly Fremon Craig comes Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret staring Abby Ryder Fortson along with Kathy Bates, Rachel McAdams and Benny Safdie.
An affecting portrait from the perspective of its eponymous figure (Fortson) days with the strain of relocating to a Garden Site suburb as the 11-year-old has much on her mind including peer pressure with new friends Nancy (Elle Graham), Janie (Amari Price), and Gretchen (Katherine Kupferer), as well as religious leanings.
Well, there’s wistfulness in being distanced now from her Jewish grandma ( a reliably ebullient Bates) with parents Barbara (McAdams of Wedding Crashers and dad Herb (Benny Safdie). A bit of background from the adaptation from Craig allows for the estrangement of Barbara’s faith given that she married into a Jewish family. Barbara wants her daughter to have time to decide and not force what often is traditionally passed on regarding matters of God.
While Margaret my not have smooth narrative flow of Seventeen considering some underlying detours, its consistent wit is often satisfyingly clever. And, the performances are distinctive and telling, socially Fortson and McAdams. With a poignant sequence reminiscing a hurtful past and an atypical palliative person. Not to mention a funny sequence with Sylvia and Margaret. Craig for the most part has a way of giving the antecedent its du with genuine tenderness and heartfelt candor.