The Wrinkle in Time director has quickly become one of this generation’s most important voices.
BY TYLER HUCKABEE
MAR-APR
HERE’S THE THING about Ava Du-
of at least $100 million. She’s feeling
itual allegories inspired by L’Engle’s
Vernay. Talking to her, you feel like
pressure, but DuVernay is not the
own deep Christian faith.
you’re in the hands of a consummate
type of person to let it get to her. No,
It’s a bold move for DuVernay, com-
director. Not just a person who knows
for her, the consummate director, it’s
ing off of personal, more intimate
how to make a good movie, but some-
actually motivating.
fare like her acclaimed documentary
one who could get any large group
“I think most artists place artistic
13th or her Best Picture-nominated
of people to do just about anything.
pressure or creative pressure on
Martin Luther King Jr. biopic, Selma.
She exudes authority. When you talk
themselves to reach higher, to try
This may be her most high-profile
to her, you get the feeling you are
new things, to try to tell stories and
project to date, but she’s sticking with
speaking with someone who knows
create images that are as visceral and
the formula that has brought her this
how to deal with situations in which
dynamic as they can,” she says. “So
far: her unique ability to tell unfor-
the stakes are high. And now, she’s at
that’s the pressure I’m feeling.”
gettable stories that are laced with
the point in her career where they’ve
The pressure she’s talking about is,
never been greater. After early crit-
of course, regarding her adaptation
ical acclaim (she’s been nominated
of A Wrinkle in Time, Disney’s up-
“[I’m] kind of like, ‘Oh gosh, did I
for Golden Globes, Emmys, Oscars,
coming blockbuster based on Made-
nail it?’” she says. “And my answer to
and a ton of other major awards),
line L’Engle’s beloved sci-fi story. The
that, to myself, in my head, is that I
she’s now become the first woman of
book was revolutionary for combin-
know for sure—while I don’t know
color to helm a movie with a budget
ing science-based fantasy with spir-
the answer to the question of ‘Did I
064
powerful social messages and an uncompromising work ethic.
2017
