My Salinger Year

My Salinger Year is a 2020 movie that follows a year in the life of Joanna Rakoff, played by Margaret Qualley, based on Rakoff’s memoir of the same name. This period drama transports us to the literary world of Manhattan in the late 90s, offering the audience an intimate portrait of a young woman finding her place within it.

The story begins when Joanna moves to New York City, filled with aspirations to become a writer. Leaving behind her boyfriend Karl in Berkeley, she is ready to step into the world of literature and poetry. But life in New York is not as romantically literary as Joanna has imagined, and she finds herself working in one of the city’s oldest literary agencies as an assistant to the formidable and seasoned agent, Margaret, portrayed by Sigourney Weaver. Margaret is a woman who has seen it all, having seen the rise and fall of the innumerable literary stars. She handpicked Joanna, believing she has the potential to hold up her literary fortress in the rapidly digitalizing world.

The Old-World charm of the setting is one of the highlights of My Salinger Year. It immerses us into an era where there were no smartphones and where technological advancement was beginning to disrupt the old ways. The bronze and sepia tones in the art direction and the director's lovingly nostalgist gaze on the dusty books on the shelves, typewriters echoing on wooden desks, piles of manila envelopes, and Rolodex cards perfectly recreate the nostalgia for a pre-digital execution of literary work.

One of the prime catches of Joanna’s job is that the agency represents the elusive and enigmatic J.D. Salinger—the author of the much-celebrated novel ‘The Catcher in the Rye’. Part of Joanna's duties is to answer Salinger’s fan mail. The standard reply is a form letter emphasising that Salinger doesn’t read fan mail. Yet, as Joanna becomes more engrossed in her job, she begins responding to select letters with personal answers, unbeknownst to her boss. Through these letters, the film reveals Joanna’s emotional journey while also offering an intimate look into the timeless impact Salinger's work has had on its readers.

Douglas Booth’s character enters as Don, who captivates Joanna with his dynamic and fascinating lifestyle as a socialist writer living in the famous heads of the Algonquin Hotel. His character adds a romantic subplot to the film exploring Joanna’s love life and her dilemmas.

Indeed, one of the main tensions in My Salinger Year is Joanna’s struggles between pragmatism and idealism—between the stabilizing promise of a well-paying job and the thrilling yet uncertain possibility of chasing her dreams. After all, in the background of all the scenes toggling between the literary agency and life outside of it, there’s the book Joanna is trying to write and the literary landscape she’s attempting to navigate.

The acting performances are remarkable, with Qualley, who is known for her role in Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood, delivering a captivating portrayal of Joanna’s emotional transformation. In addition, Weaver’s commanding presence as the stern, no-nonsense literary agent brings a delightful juxtaposition of characters.

Directorially handled by Philippe Falardeau, there's a calm, almost meditative rhythm to My Salinger Year. It takes its time to unfold its narrative, favouring subtle emotional nuances over grand theatrics, offering a slowly simmering and introspective character study above all else. It holds up a mirror to the fears, doubts, hopes and dreams many of us experience during that transformative period between our formative years and adult life.

In a nutshell, My Salinger Year is a heartfelt coming-of-age story, a tribute to the old literary world, and a warm nostalgic watch for lovers of books and the world they open up to us. It's a reminder of how literature – whether through quiet introspective novels or impassioned fan letters – has the power to connect us all. This film tells a timeless story that transcends the specific era it's set in, reaching out to everyone who's ever balanced on the precipice of their dreams, ready to jump.