Will Sharpe, best known for playing a key role in The White Lotus, will step behind the camera to direct the film adaptation of Michelle Zauner‘s acclaimed 2021 memoir Crying In H Mart.
The book revolves around Zauner’s relationship with her Korean heritage and her mother, who died from cancer in 2014. Best known as the frontwoman for indie-pop band Japanese Breakfast, Zauner is adapting the screenplay herself and will also play a part in the film’s music.
Stacey Sher will produce the project alongside Jason Kim. The official synopsis describes the film as:
“A coming-of age story about a half-Korean daughter who returns to small town Oregon to care for her Korean mother. Critical and smothering Chong-mi and creative and independent Michelle struggle to understand each other across a cultural fault line, only learning to see and accept one another through the formative power of music and the vibrant flavors of Korean cooking.”
Sharpe said in a statement: “There were lots of things that resonated with me as somebody who is half-Japanese, half-British, spent my childhood in Tokyo. Some of the descriptions of being jet-lagged in your family’s kitchen felt very familiar to me.”
Despite being best known for his work in front of the camera in The White Lotus, Sharpe is also a successful director, having previously directed Benedict Cumberbatch in biographical drama The Electrical Life of Louis Wain as well as helming true crime dark comedy series Landscapers, which starred Olivia Colman and David Thewlis. So he’s experienced with true stories.
Crying In H Mart spent over 50 weeks on the New York Times Bestseller list, and has won multiple awards, so there should be plenty of excitement for this film adaptation, which will aim to be as heartfelt and personal as the book.
#Peace.Love.CryingInHMart
