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Real Grandma Inspires Hit Film 'Eleanor the Great'
27 Jan
Summary
- Eleanor's character was inspired by screenwriter Tory Kamen's grandmother.
- The film premiered at Cannes and is now a Netflix top 10 hit.
- Real Holocaust survivors were cast to share their stories in the movie.
The film Eleanor the Great, Scarlett Johansson's directorial debut, premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival and was released in theaters in September 2025. The drama, starring June Squibb as the titular Eleanor, became a top 10 hit on Netflix after its January 24, 2026, release.
The character Eleanor was inspired by screenwriter Tory Kamen's grandmother, Elinore. While not a true story, Kamen's grandmother, who moved to New York at 95 and lived independently until her death at 99, shared a best friend named Bessie with the film's character.
Actress Rita Zohar, who portrays Eleanor's friend Bessie, was born in a concentration camp in Ukraine. The film also features other real Holocaust survivors, a decision director Johansson felt was essential. Johansson herself was inspired by her grandmother to direct the film, noting familial connections to the Holocaust and relatable themes of intergenerational relationships and Jewish identity.
