I discovered Alice Munro some years ago. It was
one of those random discoveries which usually take place in bookshops. I guess
that´s one of the perks of visiting your favourite bookshops: you are bound to
find something new, interesting or exciting. As I started reading, I couldn´t help falling in love with her
stories, stories about Canadian women who lead ordinary lives in – sometimes –
remote places of Canada. Munro excels at depicting the lives of these women
and, very often, she manages to convey an eye-opening picture of humankind just
by paying attention to a simple anecdote about the life of one of her female
protagonists.
I am happy to learn that she has been awarded
the Nobel Prize in Literature: in my opinion, she is a master of the short
story. That´s why, if you feel like learning a bit about this writer, you might
like to know that in 2006, Sarah Polley made a film based on one of her
stories: The Bear Came Over the Mountain.
The film hit
the big screen under the title of Away from Her. I fully recommend it to anyone who is interested in
some of the issues that affect all of us: loving, getting old and learning to
cope with one of the most nagging diseases of the 21st century: Alzheimer´s.
I really feel that it is a beautiful film shot with the delicacy and depth which are
typical of Alice Munro´s stories.
Had you
heard about Alice Munro before? Are you familiar with the film that I have
mentioned? Do you know any other writer whose short stories have hit the big
screen?
