My Salinger Year (2020)

A college grad takes a clerical job working for the literary agent of the renowned, reclusive writer J.D. Salinger.

Director:

Philippe Falardeau

Writers:

Philippe Falardeau, Joanna Smith Rakoff (based on the book by) (as Joanna Rakoff)

Stars:

Margaret Qualley, Sigourney Weaver, Douglas Booth

3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Margaret Qualley	...	Joanna
Sigourney Weaver	...	Margaret
Douglas Booth	...	Don
Seána Kerslake	...	Jenny
Brían F. O'Byrne	...	Hugh
Colm Feore	...	Daniel
Théodore Pellerin	...	Boy from Winston-Salem
Yanic Truesdale	...	Max
Hamza Haq	...	Karl
Leni Parker	...	Pam
Ellen David	...	Placement Agent
Romane Denis	...	Girl Who Wants an A
Tim Post	...	J.D. Salinger
Gavin Drea	...	Mark
Matt Holland	...	Clifford Bradbury

Storyline

In New York City's late nineties, a young aspiring writer lands a day-job at J.D. Salinger's literary agency. While her eccentric and old-fashioned boss tasks her to process Salinger's voluminous fan mail, she struggles to find her own voice.

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Plot Keywords:

writer | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some sexual references

Did You Know?

Trivia

Opening Film of the 2020 Berlinale

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Goofs

Joanna, referencing U.C. Berkeley, says she's like "a big cloud of East Coast irony haunting Southern California," but Berkeley is in Northern California.

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Quotes

Joanna: The job of an agent is to open up opportunities for their clients, but, when it came to Salinger, the logic was reversed. We had to shield him from the outside world, bolstering his reputation as a complicated recluse.

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Soundtracks

Troublemaker
Performed by Nada Surf
Written by Matthew Caws, Ira Elliot, Daniel Lorca
Published by Karmacode
Courtesy of Nada Surf and Mardev Records

User Reviews

A nice film, nicely made.

While there is nothing particularly revelatory about My Salinger Year, it is a pleasant and neatly crafted film. There are obvious comparisons to be made with The Devil Wears Prada but this work seems far more honest and much less showy. There is humour but not to the camp heights of 'Prada'. Instead there are some great observations on the arrival of the internet and email into the long established world of New York literati, the story being set in 1995. The always striking Sigourney Weaver has fabulous command of comedy and makes these moments truly memorable. But an actor such as Weaver has so much more to give and does so in the small opportunities she his given to extend her character beyond two dimensions. Qualley is an adeqate lead, at times over then under playing her role. Fantasy moments are also woven in, which do feel awkward at first but then somehow seem to fit with the protagonist's wistfulness. A dance sequence is particularly lovely. If you are looking for a pleasant, not very challenging but intelligent adult film then My Salinger Year will satisfy a night out, or more likely, a night in.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site producer's official website

Country:

Canada Ireland

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 March 2021 (USA)

Also Known As:

My Salinger Year

Filming Locations:

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$28,851, 7 March 2021

Gross USA:

$54,730

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$347,711

Company Credits

Production Co:

micro_scope, Parallel Film Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Color:

Color