The story of the making of The Bell Jar, the unique, semi-autobiographical novel written by American writer Sylvia Plath (1932-63), published in February 1963, shortly before her death.
Writing
Plath's actual manuscript drafts reveal her ruthless self-editing.
Production
Rare archival footage of Plath reading her own poetry.
Director
Teresa Griffiths
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The Bell Jar was published under a pseudonym because Plath feared professional retaliation—her 'real' poetry career might suffer if critics knew she wrote about mental hospitals and losing her virginity.
Maggie Gyllenhaal spent years developing a narrative adaptation of The Bell Jar that was ultimately shelved; this documentary voice role became her unexpected Plath project.
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