Karen Maine(born June 15, 1985) is an American film director and screenwriter known forObvious ChildandYes, God, Yes.She graduated fromEugene Lang College of Liberal Arts.
Karen Maine | |
|---|---|
 Karen Maine at the SXSW Film Festival 2019. Image copyright Jenna Greene | |
| Born | June 15, 1985 |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation(s) | Film director, screenwriter, producer, actor |
| Known for | Yes, God, Yes,Obvious Child |
Career
editMaine co-wrote the 2014 filmObvious Childand the 2009 short film it's based on.[1][2]
Maine wrote and directed the 2020 filmYes, God, YesstarringNatalia Dyer.The film is based on Maine's experiences growing up in Iowa and attending Catholic school for 15 years, where she received a sex-ed curriculum that emphasized not having sex before marriage.[3][4][5]Yes, God, Yespremiered at the 2019SXSWFilm Festival and won a Special Jury Award for Best Ensemble.[6]It was released byVertical Entertainment[7]via virtual theaters on July 24, 2020[8]and on VOD on July 28, 2020.[9]The film received positive reviews from critics.Richard BrodyofThe New Yorkersaid that "Maine uses meticulously composed yet freely imaginative visual and sonic textures to develop the film into a vivid, varied comedic drama and an intricate portrayal of inner experience", Katie Walsh of theLos Angeles Timessaid that "Maine's film captures something indelible about adolescent female desire, without condescending or objectifying, because she understands, subjectively, what that looks and feels like: all the confusion and shame, but yes, also the pleasure", andRichard RoeperofThe Chicago Sun-TimeswroteYes, God, Yes"retains a breezy and upbeat and even sweet disposition, thanks to the light touch of writer-director Karen Maine and an absolutely winning performance byStranger Thingsstar Natalia Dyer. "[10][11][12]The film holds a 93% approval rating on review aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes,based on 126 reviews.[13]It was included onThe New Yorker'slist of the best films of 2020.[14]
Maine directed the pilot and the first season of theBBC Three/HBO MaxseriesStarstruck,created by and starring New Zealand comedianRose Matafeo.[15][16]
In May 2021 it was announced that Maine would direct the feature filmRosaline,a modern adaptation of Shakespeare'sRomeo and Juliet,starringKaitlyn DeverasRosaline,Juliet's cousin andRomeo's first love.[17]It was released in 2022 onHulu.[18]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Credited as | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director | Writer | Producer | |||
| 2009 | Obvious Child | No | Yes | No | Short film |
| 2014 | Obvious Child | No | Story | No | |
| 2017 | Yes, God, Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Short film |
| 2019 | Yes, God, Yes | Yes | Yes | Executive | |
| 2022 | Rosaline | Yes | No | No | |
As director
editTelevision
- Starstruck(pilot, 5 episodes) (2021)
- Nobody Wants This(2 episodes) (2024)
References
edit- ^Lurie, Danielle (January 19, 2014)."Women of Sundance: Obvious Child".Filmmaker.RetrievedAugust 22,2015.
- ^Angelo, Megan (May 30, 2014)."A Rom-Com Path Less Traveled".The New York Times.Archived fromthe originalon October 3, 2015.RetrievedAugust 22,2015.
- ^"WAMG Interview: Karen Maine – Writer and Director of YES, GOD, YES".We Are Movie Geeks.July 14, 2020.RetrievedDecember 2,2020.
- ^Frank, Michael."Cathartic Catholic Cinema: Karen Maine on Yes, God, Yes | Interviews | Roger Ebert".rogerebert /.RetrievedDecember 7,2020.
- ^Peters, Fletcher."Yes, God, Yes Director Karen Maine On Repressed Female Pleasure".Culture.RetrievedDecember 7,2020.
- ^McNary, Dave (March 12, 2019)."SXSW Awards: 'Alice,' 'For Sama' Win Top Prizes".Variety.RetrievedMarch 12,2019.
- ^Hipes, Patrick (September 25, 2019)."Natalia Dyer-Starring SXSW Pic 'Yes, God, Yes' To Hit Theaters Via Vertical Entertainment".Deadline.RetrievedSeptember 25,2019.
- ^Catsoulis, Jeannette (July 23, 2020)."'Yes, God, Yes' Review: Sin and Sensuality ".The New York Times.RetrievedJuly 23,2020.
- ^O'Malley, Shelia (July 24, 2020)."Review Yes, God, Yes".RogerEbert.RetrievedJuly 24,2020.
- ^Brody, Richard (July 23, 2020)."Review:" Yes, God, Yes, "Reviewed: A Remarkable First Feature About a Catholic Girl's Sexual Rebellion".The New Yorker.
- ^Walsh, Katie (July 23, 2020)."Review: Review: 'Yes, God, Yes' and Natalia Dyer reassure the adolescent girl in us all about sex".Los Angeles Times.
- ^"'Yes, God, Yes' a sweeter, gentler kind of teen sex comedy ".The Chicago Sun-Times.July 23, 2020.
- ^"Yes, God, Yes".Rotten Tomatoes.
- ^Brody, Richard."The Best Movies of 2020".The New Yorker.RetrievedDecember 7,2020.
- ^White, Peter (August 12, 2019)."HBO Max & BBC Three Team On Rose Matafeo's Millennial Comedy 'Starstruck' From 'Catastrophe' Producer Avalon Television".Deadline.RetrievedAugust 12,2019.
- ^"Rose Matafeo lands starring role in BBC sitcom Star Struck".The New Zealand Herald.April 1, 2019.RetrievedApril 1,2019.
- ^Kroll, Justin (May 6, 2021)."20th Century Acquires Revisionist 'Romeo & Juliet' Pic 'Rosaline' With Kaitlyn Dever Attached To Star; 21 Laps Producing".Deadline.RetrievedMay 6,2021.
- ^Beresford, Trilby (November 13, 2021)."Kaitlyn Dever Shares First-Look Image of Her Character in Hulu's 'Rosaline'".The Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedNovember 13,2021.