Backbencher

The Film “An Angel At My Table” was originally a mini-series which was made into a movie. The movie is about the true story of Janet Frame. Frame is a really sensitive girl living in New Zealand. She is born into a poor family and has many brothers and sisters. She is a different girl from the begging and she only gets weirder as the film goes on. The film is a real downer type movie but has a great triumphant message. Frame manages to escape the troubled childhood and pursues her dream to become a teacher. She earns her chance to teach but blows it and is forced to quit as she cannot handle teaching. Frame then decides she wants to become a writer. She has a mental breakdown and is forced to move into an insane asylum for over eight years. The stay there seemed to be very frightening for her. It is unclear whether she started writing while she was locked up or before she was committed but while she is in the asylum she gets one of her books of poetry published. She manages to get discharged from the hospital and goes on to become the most decorative poet in New Zealand’s history. She even gets to move to England where she falls in love for the first time. The film is a dark one which takes a lot to watch. It’s tough to see the poor girl in all her misery but it is fun to see her succeed. This movie would benefit us studying Australia and New Zealand because it shows the life of one of the countries greatest writers.