Joan Didion's Documentary Gets Funded in Record Time
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Yesterday Griffin Dunne, the nephew of Joan Didion put his project of making the first ever documentary of the writer on Kickstarter. In one day they surpassed their goal of $80,000. Prizes like two pairs of the author’s iconic sunglasses were quickly snatched up for $2,500.
I was 21 when I first laid eyes on that magical packing list in her novel, “The White Album.” It began with: “2 skirts, 2 jerseys or leotards, 1 pullover sweater…” This was my first entry into the world that was Joan Didion. Slouching Towards Bethlehem and Play it as it Lays quickly followed. In her 2011 article in The Atlantic Caitlin Flanagan explained “to really love Joan Didion — to have been blown over by things like the smell of jasmine and the packing list she kept by her suitcase —you have to be female.”
To a certain female, to love Joan Didion is to affirm certain things about yourself: you are well read, cultured, but also that you love all things beautiful but only in the most subtle way. I think it’s a precursor to the cult that is Céline and the female designer driven uniform dressing that has dominated fashion for the last few years. My favorite images of Didion is the one on the cover of Vintage Didion. She wears a Barbour jacket, silk scarf, and black Mary-Janes.
For anyone with a similar cultish devotion like mine, you can still donate to the Kickstarter campaign. The sunglasses may be gone but you can have your favorite book signed by Didion ($100) or receive a handwritten list by Didion of her favorite books of all time ($35). (I may opt for this.) There’s even a chance to visit the reclusive author on the set. Don’t laugh! Some of us would faint at such a chance.
