My feeling is that, regardless of how we grew up socioeconomically, most of us grew up sort of siloed. We grew up within these constructions that we couldn’t really see were constructions—they seemed like the whole world. I guess I leaned into the righteousness that arises when we’re siloed in that way. There’s a nasty, villainous, slightly evil righteousness to this particular family [in KAJILLIONAIRE], but I think even the most well-meaning righteousness ultimately fails children. I mean, your parents will have misinformed you because they can only speak about life as they knew it, and you will betray them because you will not continue to live the way that you once lived as a child in that family. The inherent betrayal in that, and the resulting heartbreak, is what I was writing from. I tore through the first draft of the script never once thinking about my own family. They’re not literal, but for me they’re more resonant because of that. There’s this kind of ache. — Miranda July*

Join Miranda July and Spike Jonze in virtual conversation as they discuss July’s new film KAJILLIONAIRE.

To r.s.v.p. for this event—presented by the American Cinematheque—see link below.

MIRANDA JULY and SPIKE JONZE IN CONVERSATION

Monday, September 28.

7:30 pm on the West Coast; 10:30 East Coast.

KAJILLIONAIRE

Now playing in select cinemas.

*Miranda July, interview by Nick Haramis, Interview, September 18, 2020.

Miranda July, Kajillionaire (2020), from top: Evan Rachel Wood; Gina Rodriguez (left) and Wood; Richard Jenkins, Debra Winger (center), and Wood; Wood; Rodriguez; Kajillionaire U. S. poster; Wood; Rodriguez and Wood; Jenkins, Winger, and Wood; Miranda July. Images courtesy and © the filmmaker, the actors, and Focus Features.