It’s been far too long since we’ve had a movie from Sarah Polley. The actress turned filmmaker made her mark with 2006’s “Away From Her,” followed it up with the underrated relationship/break up movie “Take This Waltz,” and the delivered the personal and deeply moving documentary “Stories We Tell.” That was four years ago. But the good news is she’s back behind the camera this summer, with a project that’s going to give us plenty to dive into.
Polley will start production on the six-hour miniseries “Alias Grace” on August 15th. Based on the novel by Margaret Atwood, Polley signed up to adapt the material quite a few years ago (and a quote from the book opens “Stories We Tell”), and while not much had been heard about the project since, it’s clear she found an involving narrative to unspool. The drama will be based on the true story surrounding the 1843 murders of Thomas Kinnear and his housekeeper/mistress Nancy Montgomery, by Kinnear’s servants, 16 year-old Grace Marks and James McDermott. Atwood herself has long been fascinated with the case, writing a CBC TV movie “The Servant Girl” way back in 1974, but has since come around to the conclusion that Marks wasn’t involved.
There’s no word yet on what network or streaming service might be airing “Alias Grace,” but I’d wager we’ll be finding out soon enough, perhaps alongside casting news when it’s revealed. Regardless, we’re eager to see Polley tackle a period based true crime tale that has no shortage of intrigues, and it will undoubtedly be some captivating stuff. [Pop Goes The News]
