Elinor Lipman's Then She Found Me Hits the Big Screen

I've always loved Elinor Lipman, author of Then She Found Me, which is on the big screen now as Helen Hunt's directorial debut (not to mention her return to the screen after what seems like a long absence). The film also stars other actors I love, including Colin Firth, Matthew Broderick and Bette Midler. I remember reading Then She Found Me years ago, it was either my first or second Lipman novel and it is so fresh and funny and touching. I highly recommend for a book club read. If anyone's seen the movie, I'd love to hear what you think. The NY Times review was reservedly positive I thought. Watch the trailer here. And you can enter to win a call from Lipman to your book group here, but enter quickly, entries must be received by Wed, 4/30.

Comments

[Suzy]

Our Book Club recently read Then She Found Me and enjoyed discussing the wonderful, thoroughly developed characters. Tonight we went to see Helen Hunt's movie and left disappointed and thoroughly confused. Helen Hunt completely changed the story and only kept the Bette Midler character intact. I thought the idea of buying the rights to make a movie of a book was to keep it true to the original intent. Helen Hunt was not believable at all as April. First of all Helen Hunt looked way too old and was painfully thin both in appearance and acting. I applaude Helen for fighting to bring her movie to light, but it was too far removed from Elinor Lipman's entertaining novel. How disappointing!

[Julie E.]

Thanks for this review, Suzy. I love Elinor Lipman and was curious about what Helen Hunt would do to this book. I'd already read about one pretty big change she'd made and am surprised to hear she apparently made many more changes as well. As you imply, what is the point of adapting a novel if you're going to change just about everything? I think I'll skip this movie, but if I ever do see it, I'll keep in mind that it shouldn't be viewed as a true adaptation.

[kungfu chunkey monkey]

you should write about what the book is about.