Tiny Beautiful Things

Tiny Beautiful Things is a bestseller that was picked up by Reese Witherspoon's book club and made into a film through her production company Hello Sunshine. Merrit Wever plays an important role in it, so that was reason enough for me to give this series a chance. And to watch out. Actress Kathryn Hahn (Mrs Fletcher) is a 49-year-old writer in the midst of a midlife crisis. She is having a hard time with herself, her work, her teenage daughter, her younger brother and her marriage. But she also has long-term trauma; about the death of her mother years ago, when she was only 46 years old and died of cancer. After she loses her job, she gets a chance to take over a letters column. Letters from people with philosophical questions. She grabs that opportunity with both hands. Her answers to those letters touch the lives of many people. The story takes place in the present and in the period around the time of the death of the mother (Merrit Wever), when her daughter is studying at university and her derailing son is still in high school. The characters of the daughter (and her brother) are therefore different, younger actors in the flashbacks. Both periods are fascinating. Still, I missed something. That something was mainly a connection with the main character. I thought it was that cliché of the neurotic, self-doubting writer again. I've seen enough of that. I didn't find her that sympathetic either, more of a 'How can I make this about me?' kind of person. On the other hand, everything else was really good. The supporting roles, the atmospheric setting, the sets and the visuals. And the soundtrack, just beautiful.