‘My Salinger Year’ looks back at a bygone era in New York City. It’s set in 1996 but feels nostalgic and whimsical. It’s refreshing to watch a film where you don’t see any smartphones. People actually had to communicate with each other face to face. They read books. They sat down at cafés and chatted with friends. You can see the energy of New York at the epicenter of the literary world. It was the place to go to realize your dreams and goals. Filmmaker Philippe Falardeau perfectly captures the ambitious journey of a young woman trying to break into this elite society.
After graduating from Berkeley, Joanna (Margaret Qualley) decides to move to New York to become a writer. The only problem is that a girl has to eat. She gets an interview and lands a job at a prestigious literary agency run by a stern boss (Sigourney Weaver). One of her clients is Jerry. Jerry happens to be one of the greatest writers of the 20th century – J.D. Salinger. Joanna is tasked to read all of his fan mail and then shred them. She gets to speak to Salinger over the phone and when he finds out she is an aspiring writer he tells her, “Writing makes you a writer. If you get up every morning and write, then you’re a writer. Publishing doesn’t make you a writer. That’s just commerce.”
One of the main reasons ‘My Salinger Year’ works is the captivating performance by Margaret Qualley. You may remember her breakout performance as a hippie chick in ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.’ She is destined to be a big star one day. She literally lights up the screen with her presence. You really get the sense that her character is struggling to balance a day job with her writing aspirations. You root for her to succeed as a writer but it is also amusing to see her navigate the responsibilities of dealing with Salinger and his fans. The film even breaks the fourth wall and lets the fans read their letters about how ‘Catcher in the Rye’ has changed their lives. Joanna secretly writes to them and finds her inner-voice.
‘My Salinger Year’ has a ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ vibe to it. Innocent girl moves to New York City. She lands a dream job at a prestigious agency. She succeeds at the job but her true passion is to become a writer. She becomes strong and independent. You cannot help but admire her moxie. This was before the internet and smartphones dominated the landscape. She even uses a typewriter to write letters back to Salinger’s fans. The film works due to the endearing performance of Margaret Qualley. I cannot say enough about this talented actress. She is convincing in the lead role and the reason to seek out ‘My Salinger Year.’
