WINTER'S BONE Director takes on PIPPI LONGSTOCKING
Winter's Bone director Debra Granik is currently working on developing a film that was completely unexpected... a big screen adaptation of Pippi Longstocking. I loved Winter's Bone and Granik is an incredibly talented director, I just didn't expect to see her go in this direction. It's not a bad thing! I was just surprised.
Pippi Longstocking was originally a Swedish children's book that was published back in 1945. It introduced the world to a 9-year-old girl with trademark red hair and pigtails. Sequel books followed and spawned both multiple television series and feature films.
Pippi is unconventional, assertive, and has superhuman strength, being able to lift her horse one-handed without difficulty. She frequently mocks and dupes adults she encounters, an attitude likely to appeal to young readers; however, Pippi usually reserves her worst behavior for the most pompous and condescending of adults. She turns white around the nose whenever she gets angry, though this rarely happens. Pippi's anger is reserved for the most extreme cases, such as when a man ill-treats his horse. Like Peter Pan, Pippi does not want to grow up.
Pippi is an incredibly interesting character that can easily work with today's audiences. I'm sure Granik will do a great job and be find a very creative way to bring this character back to life. She recently told the LA Times the following:
As a kid, I got really envious of men's coming of age in movies. Their knowledge of darkness would grow, their compassion would grow, whatever it was, it felt like they would gain something, and the female coming of age often was punitive, like an unwanted pregnancy. We're all like, 'Oh God, I'm so glad I'm not her.'
What are your thoughts on Pippi Longstocking making a comeback?