Cathy Dobson Emma Donoghue, author of the award-winning Room and screenwriter for the Oscar-nominated film of the same name, says she drew inspiration for her novel from a real story.
Cathy Dobson
Emma Donoghue, author of the award-winning Room and screenwriter for the Oscar-nominated film of the same name, says she drew inspiration for her novel from a real story.
“But I only took a tiny bit of detail from the Fritzl case,” she said, referring to a horrific abduction in Austria in which a father held his daughter in a secret room for 24 years and repeatedly impregnated her.
As disturbing as the story was, Donoghue said what fascinated her about it was the daughter’s power to survive and raise three children in such conditions.
“You hear about many moving cases obviously, but as a mother of two children aged one and four at the time, I immediately thought about how she managed this extraordinary act of survival and resiliency.
“It made me think about what makes a family unit successful in adverse circumstances of all kinds, and I thought of rituals, providing a reliable rhythm to life.
“Those things can be immensely soothing to kids,” she said.
The bestselling novel, published in 2010, won copious awards and was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize.
The film adaptation of Room was released in November of 2015, starring Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay, and was nominated for four Academy Awards, with Larson getting the nod for Best Actress.
It also won audience awards at eight festivals and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for best screenplay, and won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a dramatic role.
And this week, it’s scheduled for a special screening in Sarnia as part of the South Western International Film Festival (SWIFF), followed by Donoghue in conversation.
It will be the first time an academy award nominated artist has presented his or her work in Sarnia.
Born in Ireland and living in London Ont., Donoghue said until now she has only ever passed through on the way to somewhere else.
“I’m looking forward to the experience of being in Sarnia, to have a chance for proper contact,” she said.
Unlike some writers, Donoghue said she thoroughly enjoys interacting with the public.
“It’s a nice contrast to writing, which is all done in the house. That human connection is lovely,” she said.
“I particularly enjoy talking to people right after they’ve seen the film and we’re all responding in the moment together.
“After seeing Room, some are so upset, some are so cheered,” Donoghue said. “It reminds me that the book only really happens when people experience it. We each bring something different to it.”
The film, like the book, follows five-year-old Jack who lives in a single room with his Ma and has never been outside. The pair is held captive until a risky escape plan unfolds.
With the commercial success of the book and movie, many people have suggested a sequel to Donoghue. But she told The Journal there won’t be one.
“I’m not interested in writing sequels,” she said. “Sequels usually feel like you’re whipping a dead horse. There’s so little to say.
“I think that Ma and Jack live a very normal life after the novel ends. There’s no surprises.”
Ravi Srinivasan, a Corunna native and St. Pat’s grad, staged the inaugural SWIFF event in Sarnia last year and featured acclaimed Canadian filmmaker and Sarnia native Patricia Rozema.
Srinivasan is striving to make Sarnia a hotspot for movie lovers and aspiring filmmakers by holding SWIFF here, creating some of the same buzz as the Toronto International Film Festival and REEL Canada.
About 4,000 people attended the 2015 event in downtown Sarnia. The 2016 festival isn’t until November but Srinivasan said he intends to keep interest up year-round with events such as Donoghue’s appearance Friday.
IF YOU GO:
WHAT: An evening with Academy Award nominee Emma Donoghue and screening of her film, Room.
WHEN: Friday, August 12. 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Imperial Theatre
TICKETS: $22. At the box office, 519-344-7469 or imperialtheatre.net.
