Change is inevitable in life and book-to-screen adaptations. In the latest adaptation to hit the 2024 movie calendar, The idea of you, many changes have been made. However, retouch producer Cathy Schulman pointed out that a very important issue revolves around the choice to age Solène’s daughter Izzy – who is alongside Anne Hathaway’s character as she navigates her romantic relationship with 24-year-old boyband frontman Hayes Campbell – and she explained why.
Izzy is 13 in Robinne Lee’s book; in the film, she is 17 years old. It’s a serious age jump, and it opens the door for Solène to have more nuanced conversations with her daughter because she’s more mature and aware of the complexities of her relationship with Hayes. Speaking of which, producer Cathy Schulman explained why this change was important during a press conference for the film. film adaptation of The idea of you at which CienmaBlend was present, saying:
As we started the development process, the first thing that I think we felt was really necessary was to age the girl she was from in the book. We wanted Solène’s character to have someone to talk to and to really open up about the changes that were happening in her own life.
She added that she brought up the change because it fit with the film’s “message” that “women shouldn’t be put in boxes.” Through Solène’s relationship with Izzy, we can see them communicate very well about their desires and the relationship of Hathaway’s character with Hayes. Izzy is also old enough to be very independent and, although her daughter is obviously a top priority in her life, Solène is able to spend more time with her boyfriend and work.
At this point, Schulman expanded on the message of The idea of you and how the elderly mother-daughter relationship helped illuminate it, saying:
It was really important that we were able to examine what it means to move from a phase of motherhood and a first marriage to possibilities for greater happiness, while also leading a young person to become a woman. And I think those are the messages that we hope the film leaves, which is the possibility of happiness and the importance of remaining vulnerable to allow happiness to return.
Schulman went on to say that when we meet Solène, she’s at a point where she wants to go camping and find fulfillment, her daughter is almost an adult, and she’s trying to figure out what her life has in store next, because “it’s not finished.” There’s so much more waiting for her and she’s at a turning point, Izzy being older helps show that. The producer ended her explanation by saying:
So the whole development process was about opening up the story to get there.
Besides getting older, Izzy was a good choice for the story, it also allowed them to cast Ella Rubin in the role. The 22-year-old actress, who really looks like Anne Hathaway’s daughter, expressed at the press conference how grateful she was for the change, and she called landing the role and this change a “fortuitous and very lucky thing”. »
Overall, this change makes a lot of sense, and it’s nice to see Izzy and Solène supporting and uplifting each other throughout the film. While this is possible with a 13 year old, there is no doubt that a 17 year old is much better when it comes to having mature conversations with their parents.
Clearly, edits like this worked alongside the moving story, stellar cast, and fun music, because The idea of you provoked strong reactions critics and fans, and some even are comparing it to the romantic comedy classic Notting Hill. Overall, it appears that this project is poised to become one of The best movies on Amazon Primeand it’s in part thanks to the creative choices they made to support Solène’s complex and emotional journey.
You can broadcast The idea of you with a Amazon subscription.
