With winning 2019’s Booker Prize for The Testaments, a successful television series, and a world even more enraptured by her already popular prose, it’s natural to want to know what goes on in the mind and life of one of the most beloved authors, Margaret Atwood. The new documentary, Margaret Atwood: A Word after a Word after a Word is Power does just that.
Having already been a household name for decades around the world, Atwood is truly a prolific literary figure—yet few know the private life of the author. Who is the person behind the impactful imagery and oddly prescient stories? Now, thanks a film crew with over a year of exclusive access to Atwood and her late partner Graeme Gibson, we can all share a glimpse of the woman behind the words.
Filmed as she was traveling the world for speaking engagements, and completing the final chapters of The Testaments, the documentary shows a never-before-seen side of the literary legend. We see her visiting the set of A Handmaid’s Tale, her writing process, and are privy to many personal stories shared by family, friends and Atwood herself. Her upbringing in the Canadian wilderness, and early days as a poet, are also explored with a thoughtful, intimate approach.
Throughout the film, her major works are brought into further clarity, as the personal circumstances that influenced her writing are revealed. Her poetry and prose are read by Emmy-award winning Canadian actress, Tatiana Maslany.
You can watch the trailer for Margaret Atwood: A Word after a Word after a Word is Power, here. A shorter version of the documentary will be available on CBC GEM on Thursday, November 18th. It is screening in full in Toronto at the Ted Rogers Hot Docs Cinema, until November 17th.
To book speaker Margaret Atwood, contact her exclusive speakers bureau, The Lavin Agency.
