Female Actors Redefine Artistry in Filmic Adaptations of Books and Plays

variety.com:

Courtney Howard An abundance of book-to-film and play-to-film adaptations this year have connected with audiences, many of which have women either writing and directing or turning in compelling performances.

From period pieces that reflect pressing issues of race or toxic masculinity, to modern-set features showcasing deaf culture or the societal mores of motherhood, these ladies’ unwavering dedication to infuse their characters with an organic, captivating sense of realism makes these conversation-stirring pictures come alive in their capable hands.Rebecca Hall, the writer and director of “Passing,” wasn’t familiar with the history of the term, which describes covering one’s racial identity to assimilate into the majority.

However, she recognized the brilliance of the character dynamics in Nella Larsen’s novel. “She takes the idea of racial passing and turns it over and over until it becomes this prism through which anyone can see the crucial truths hidden by our public selves.” But it was a personal connection to the material that provided the impetus to tackle her debut as a filmmaker. “I had the quite intimate and inexplicable feeling that I knew these women, and when I explored the history further, and my own family’s history, that started to make more sense to me.” She continues, “I wrote the screenplay as a way to understand my purely visceral response to the book, and maybe I made the film for close to the same reason.”For another actress-turned-filmmaker, Maggie Gyllenhaal, the motivation to write and direct “The Lost Daughter” came after she became “electrified” reading author Elena Ferrante’s taboo sentiments on motherhood. “I thought, ‘What if instead of this private experience, alone in my room with this.