“We have to start seeing women on film as they really are… We need to see real women’s experiences… The constant incredible talent of women playing wives and girlfriends, I had enough”.
And in one statement, the whole process behind Big Little Lies comes to light. Executive producer and lead actress, Reese Witherspoon, and her production partner, Bruna Papandrea, optioned the best seller Big Little Lies by author, Liane Moriarty, back in 2014. The story and its characters immediately seduced Witherspoon.
“They showed every spectrum and color of a woman’s life. I thought it was incredible to have so many parts for women in one piece of material”.
Witherspoon has been increasingly more active as a producer with projects such as Gone Girl, Wild and five other projects announced. She wants to see more women on set. Enough of seeing women portraying wives and girlfriends. Enough of the “Smurfette Syndrome”, 100 [male] smurfs around and only one woman. She wants stronger and better roles for women.
Executive producer and lead actress, Nicole Kidman adds: “There are five great roles here [for women]. It’s very, very rare”.
The story follows three mothers of kindergartens whose lives start to unravel after a murder occurs. There is Jane (Shailene Woodley) who just moved to Monterrey to provide a better life for her son. There is Madeline (Witherspoon), the full-time mom and part-time worker. And there is Celeste (Kidman) a devoted mother with a secret personal life. Who died? Who is guilty?
This is what this all women cast TV show has in store for us. Will this be an important step for women? In any case we can be sure that to the very least it will be refreshing.
The seven-hour miniseries starring Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, Shailene Woodley, Zoe Kravitz and Laura Dern, will premiere on February 19th on HBO.
#Peace.Love.BigLittleLies
