THE GIRL IN THE BOOK
US, 2015, 86 minutes, Colour.
Emily Van Camp, Anya Mulvoy Ten, Michael Nyqvist, David Call, Michael Christofer, Talia Balsam.
Directed by Mary Cohn.
A brief drama set in the world of writers and publishing. It is also a story of a sexual predator – filmed before the emergence of the Me Too# response to Harvey Weinstein.
The central character, Alice, is played in the present by Emily Van Camp and 17 years earlier by Anya Mulvoy Ten. We are introduced to her in the present, disturbed, working for the publishing firm, her father and influential publisher and strong influence on her life. Her boss is asking her to prepare an e-book of one of the company’s bestsellers. She then meets the author, played by Swedish actor, Michael Nyqvist.
In the past, she has trained to be a writer and is introduced to Nyqvist who guides her with her writing, becomes infatuated with her, sexual approach which confuses and alarms her – manifest in a scene where the author does a reading from his book, drawing on his experiences with her and she leaves the room. He rationalises his writing in drawing on her experience and the important effect that it would have on her life.
In the present, Alice is confused, sexually awry, some affairs, falling in love but betraying him as well as her closest friend. Again, the influence of her father.
The audience has to pay attention, especially at the beginning in realising that we are seeing two stages in Alice’s life, the issue of her sexuality, the influence of the predator, his presence in the world of publishing.
- the world of literature, writing, book production, bookselling? Authors? Relationships?
- The New York setting, the two periods, 16 years apart?
- New York, the book company, offices, homes, book readings, social functions…? The musical score?
- Alice and her story, audiences initially alert to the two different times? The moving between each period, throwing light on Alice young, Alice older?
- The author, his book, Alice being asked to transfer it as an e-book? Her reactions, interactions with her boss? The influence of her father? The author appearing? Her memories?
- Alice in the past, young, her father and his literature connections, the introduction to the author, her own writing, interactions with the author, his help, manner, seduction, creditor? The effect on her? His book, the book reading, her leaving? Her feelings of being exploited?
- Alice in the present, her work, her own writing, wanting to promote the young author? Clashes with her boss, with her father? Interactions with the author? Her best friend, her son, their talking together, support? Her visit, the babysitter, the sexual encounter, her friend’s reaction, cutting her off? The encounter with effort, his cause, friends, meetings, the attraction? Alice and her further sexual encounter, motivations? Everton his reaction, her wanting forgiveness, her video with the 16 reasons for forgiveness?
- Work at the office, the socials, the promotion of the book, the confrontation with the author, his memories of the past, excusing himself?
- Going to have it, asking forgiveness? The possibilities of some healing and future?
