One such film for me is Rebel in the Rye (2017). It is an American biographical drama that tells the story of J. D. Salinger and his path from being an ordinary young lad to becoming a famous writer of the renowned bestseller The Catcher in the Rye. This motion picture takes us on Salinger’s journey through his love for Oona O’Neill, the Second World War, his first chapters about Holden, until he achieved fame that many say developed overnight. It also shows us how Salinger started writing while studying at Columbia University in New York, where he was trying to impress his teacher Whit Burnett and write a perfect short story for the magazine Story. Thanks to that teacher, Salinger once started writing a narration of Holden’s life.
At the beginning of the movie, Whit Burnett asks Salinger a very important question: “You see, Jerry, this is what you need to be doing in your writing. Explore what it is that makes you angry and then put that into a story. But here’s the catch. You still may never publish. You may spend the rest of your life being rejected. And now, you have to ask yourself a question. Are you willing to devote your life to telling stories knowing that you may get nothing in return?” Well, now, this is a clever yet tricky premise. If the answer is no, then it is easy and you are not a true writer. If it is yes, then you may become the person you want to be and do more than just putting words onto paper – you become a writer. Why do authors write? Are they actually willing to spend their life writing stories but not get paid? Salinger found the answer to those questions later, also finding freedom in the knowledge that the most important thing is to write, not to publish.
This movie is a beautiful tale for aspiring writers because it can be a huge inspiration, propelling you to do something with your writing. At least that was the case for me since the film gave me freedom, space and a new point-of-view on what writing is really about.