WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
Just Kids is as much a memoir of rock and roll in the sixties and seventies in New York as it is a recount of the extraordinary lives of songwriter and feminist punk pioneer, Patti Smith, and controversial photographer, Robert Mapplethorpe. The era in question is, historically, a cultural turning point unlike any other in the 20th century; a time of immense social unrest and upheaval, when everything was possible and nothing was inevitable. This piece of writing captures the essence of the New York rock and cultural scene of the time, and really, who better to tell it than Patti Smith? Just Kids is also an intense story of first love, evolving relationships, and the struggle to develop your craft in the face of alcohol, drugs, and addiction.
WHY WOULD IT MAKE A GOOD MOVIE?
Patti Smith’s descriptive prose makes the reader feel that they know her intimately, and that they’re living the rock and roll journey with her and Robert: their heartaches, hopes, wins, and rejections seem to belong to every reader. It is also a scary ride – for much of their time together, the pair were living on the edge, not knowing where their next meal would come from, where they would live, or how to cope with the consequences of their transient lifestyle. Just Kids is dramatic, sad, funny, and chock full of evocative imagery and even better song references. The memoir’s distilled study of Patti and Robert’s actions and motivations, as well as their lively dialogue about art and life, would give any director and writer ample material to develop strong thematic undercurrents.
WHO SHOULD MAKE IT?
The question of direction here is a tough one; though Patti Smith has no prior experience behind the camera, her guidance in the art and feel for the movie would be crucial to its success, and she would certainly need to serve as a “creative consultant” at the very least. The best man to hold the directorial reins would be veteran indie hero, Gus Van Sant. Renowned for making strongly character driven movies (Good Will Hunting), but also for tackling difficult issues (gay rights in Milk, suicide in The Sea Of Trees, fracking in Promised Land, terminal illness in Restless), this brave and daring filmmaker would be an artful choice indeed.
WHO SHOULD BE IN IT?
Few young actresses would be capable of emulating the simultaneous vulnerability and raw power of Patti Smith, but dual Oscar nominee, Saoirse Ronan (pictured left), has proven herself with strong, emotionally charged performances in Atonement, The Lovely Bones, Hanna, The Way Back, How I Live Now, and Brooklyn. The near inimitable Robert Mapplethorpe – in his happiest moments, exuding pure joie de vivre, and in his saddest, terrifying depression – would be faithfully represented by Sam Riley, whose unnerving level of intensity in Control and Brighton Rock was nothing short of staggering. As Mapplethorpe’s lover and famed art collector, Sam Wagstaff, the ever-busy James Franco would be a perfect fit.
