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Shirley: A Biopic That Rewrites History
24 Jun
Summary
- The film "Shirley" is a fictionalized portrayal of author Shirley Jackson.
- Elisabeth Moss delivers a strong performance as the cantankerous author.
- The movie significantly alters Jackson's life for dramatic effect.
The 2020 film "Shirley," directed by Josephine Decker, loosely adapts Susan Scarf Merrell's novel about the renowned horror author Shirley Jackson. Elisabeth Moss offers a powerful portrayal of Jackson, depicted as a spirited woman defiant of societal norms, characterized by her cantankerous, lethargic, and alcoholic nature.
The narrative focuses on Jackson's interaction with a fictional college student, Rose Namser, and her optimistic outlook on life and impending motherhood. This contrasts sharply with Jackson's own childlessness, a theme the film emphasizes as a source of resentment, despite Jackson having had children by the film's depicted time.
Significant fictional liberties are taken, including the introduction of Rose and the emphasis on Jackson's childlessness as a primary emotional driver. The film also highlights Jackson's seemingly open marriage to Stanley Edgard Hyman. Ultimately, "Shirley" prioritizes thematic exploration over strict biographical accuracy.
