Ottessa Moshfegh, a renowned author known for creating complex and sometimes repulsive female characters, is bringing her distinct storytelling to the big screen with the adaptation of her 2015 debut novel, Eileen. From Lapvona to My Year of Rest and Relaxation, her protagonists are some of modern literature’s most inexplicable. Now, the chaos of it all is making its way onto the silver screen.
Directed by William Oldroyd, not only does the film have an evocative period setting, but it’s got a starry cast, too. Ottessa Moshfegh wrote the screenplay for the film with Luke Goebel, her screenwriting, as well as her real-life partner. Here’s everything you need to know about Eileen.
What is Eileen about?
The film version of Eileen follows much the same plot as the book. Set in a bleak New England town in the mid-1960s, a miserable 24-year-old protagonist works as a secretary at a men’s prison, while being stuck looking after her abusive, alcoholic father. But her whole life is upended when a dazzling psychologist named Rebecca Saint John is hired at the prison. Eileen gets obsessively drawn in and becomes entangled in Rebecca’s dark secret.
Who will star in Eileen?
The stellar ensemble cast of Eileen features Anne Hathaway as Rebecca and Thomasin McKenzie as Eileen Dunlop. Hathaway portrays a pivotal character in the story, while McKenzie embodies the reserved yet complex titular character, Eileen. Their dynamic on-screen presence promises to be a highlight of the film.
When is Eileen’s release date?
The film is set to drop in theatres in the US on 1 December 2023, before a wide release on 8 December 2023.
Watch the trailer here.
