Judy Blume Forever

Judy Blume Forever is a 2023 American documentary film centered on author Judy Blume, directed by Davina Pardo and Leah Wolchok. It premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, and was released on Prime Video on April 21, 2023.

Judy Blume Forever
Release poster
Directed by
  • Davina Pardo
  • Leah Wolchok
Produced by
  • Sara Bernstein
  • Davina Pardo
  • Marcella Steingart
  • Justin Wilkes
  • Leah Wolchok
StarringJudy Blume
Cinematography
  • Jenni Morello
  • Emily Topper
Edited byTal Ben-David
Music byLauren Culjak
Production
company
Distributed byAmazon Studios
Release dates
  • January 21, 2023 (2023-01-21) (Sundance)
  • April 21, 2023 (2023-04-21) (United States)
Running time
97 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Summary

The documentary covers the life, career, and legacy of Judy Blume, including her experiences with some of her books being banned, and the current state of free speech in the United States.[2] It documents her trajectory from her upbringing in New Jersey to suburban housewife to famous novelist of young adult fiction.[3] It includes new interviews with Blume, as well as past talk show appearances, archival photographs, and testimonials about Blume's impact from actors Lena Dunham, Molly Ringwald, and Anna Konkle, comedian Samantha Bee, authors Mary H.K. Choi and Jacqueline Woodson, Blume's two children, and adult women who corresponded with Blume when they were teens.[1][4]

Cast

Production

While on a road trip with her husband and kids, Davina Pardo listened to an audiobook version of Judy Blume's young adult novel Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, and became curious about Blume's life.[5] When directors Pardo and Leah Wolchok approached Blume in June 2018 about being the subject of a documentary, she was initially hesitant. In February 2020, she agreed, but filming was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[1][5][6]

Release

The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2023.[2] It was released on Prime Video on April 21, 2023.[2]

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 95% of 59 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.8/10. The website's consensus reads: "An entertaining look back at an influential author's career, Judy Blume Forever lovingly contextualizes her literary legacy."[7] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 79 out of 100, based on 16 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[8]

Kate Erbland of Indiewire gave the film a B+, writing that it provides "an edifying and rich overview of everything Judy."[4] Guy Lodge of Variety called it "a lively, affectionate documentary tribute" in which "nostalgia for that sense of formative discovery is balanced by a present-tense exploration of Blume’s enduring popularity, resonance and controversy."[9] Tim Grierson of Screen Daily called Blume "fun company" who "comes across as a warm, generous spirit."[10]

References
  1. Keegan, Rebecca (20 January 2023). "After 29 Books, Judy Blume Finally Tells Her Own Story in New Doc". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  2. Patten, Dominic (23 January 2023). "'Judy Blume Forever' Directors On The Author's Legacy, Relevance & Banned Books In America – Sundance Q&A". Deadline. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  3. Vargas, Alani (24 January 2023). "Judy Blume Forever, Sundance 'Judy Blume Forever' Review: Documentary Joyfully Celebrates Esteemed Author's Life & Impact". The Playlist. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  4. Erbland, Kate (21 January 2023). "'Judy Blume Forever' Review: Finally, an American Icon Worthy of Adoration". Indiewire. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  5. Morfoot, Addie (21 January 2023). "How 'Judy Blume Forever' Directors Convinced the Literary Icon to Open Up on Camera". Variety. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  6. ""Judy's Books Allowed Us to Travel Back to Our Own Childhoods"". Filmmaker Magazine. 21 January 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  7. "Judy Blume Forever". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  8. "Judy Blume Firever Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  9. Lodge, Guy (22 January 2023). "Crayola-Bright Documentary Pays Tribute to a Path-Breaking Children's Author". Variety. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  10. Grierson, Tim (21 January 2023). "'Judy Blume Forever': Sundance Review". Screen Daily. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
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