International Women’s Day is here and what better way to celebrate than by exploring the life of one of America’s pioneering authors—Judy Blume. Prime Video released a trailer for the documentaryJudy Blume Foreverwhich tells the coming-of-age story of the writer as she grows from an imaginative child to a fearless scribe penning honest and heartfelt stories for people of all ages. The trailer features the author herself as she walks through her life and most iconic works, fromAre You There God? It’s Me, MargarettoSummer Sisters.
The documentary comes as Blume is finally being truly welcomed with open arms by Hollywood. Adaptations of her work have been few and far between despite their wide reach. Part of why readers love her, and censors hate her, is her openness regarding the more taboo parts of growing up like sexuality, puberty, bullying, and other complicated subjects in a very real yet comforting manner. Now, the dam is finally breaking on Blume adaptations with anAre You There God?film coming in April andJoe and Anthony Russodeveloping aSuperfudgeanimated movie for Disney+.Forever…, one of Blume’s most banned books for how it explores virginity, is also beingturned into a seriesat Netflix. With her work finally breaking through, there’s no better time to illustrate the impact she’s had in the literary world and the struggles she underwent to have her voice heard.
The trailer hits on both Blume’s past and the constant struggle of elevating her work above the censors. It makes a clear point, however, that the importance of her stories was about the people they impacted. Blume’s relationship with her readers and her desire to lend an ear and some much-needed words to them is on full display, showing the natural warmth that she would bring to her work throughout the years.
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Celebrity Blume Superfans Showed Up En Masse forJudy Blume Forever
To tell the story of Blume and her work,Judy Blume Foreverpulled in several major celebrities with distinct voices to express their love for the author’s stories and how they were impacted by her words. Included in the film areAnna Konkle(Pen15),Lena Dunham(Girls),Molly Ringwald(Sixteen Candles), andSamantha Bee(Full Frontal with Samantha Bee) among others. Blume’s fans are countless, however, and their appreciation for her will be on full display through handwritten letters from those who’ve kept a close correspondence with the author and confided in her for guidance.
Emmy winnersDavina PardoandLeah WolchokdirectedJudy Blume Foreverand their touch helped make the heartfelt tribute a hit when it debuted at Sundance earlier this year. On Rotten Tomatoes, it currently sits at a strong 91% critics score with many commenting on the warmth of Blume throughout the new interviews with her. Imagine Documentaries produced the film.
Judy Blume Foreverpremieres on Prime Video on April 21. Check out the trailer below:
