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Writer Margaret Atwood, director Jennifer Baichwal to collaborate on Payback
The National Film Board of Canada has just optioned the film rights to Margaret Atwood's non-fiction book, Payback: Debt and the Shadow Side of Wealth. Payback is an investigation into the concept of debt as an ancient and central motif in religion, literature and the structure of human societies. The film will be directed by Jennifer Baichwal (Manufactured Landscapes) and produced by Ravida Din (Family Motel).
Payback explores how debt has informed our thinking from preliterate times to the present day. Through the stories we tell each other, through our concepts of balance and in the way we form our social relationships, Atwood shows that the idea of what we owe one another, debt, is built into the human imagination and is one of its most dynamic metaphors.
"This is a brilliant book on a timely subject matter by one of the most accomplished writers in the world. It made complete sense to me that the NFB should produce this documentary," said Din.
"The writing in Payback is so rich and acute that the ideas literally jumped off the page when I read it. It was brimming with cinematic possibilities," added Baichwal.
This project marks the first time Atwood has collaborated directly with the NFB. "The documentary will have many wonderful visual elements that will enlarge the understanding of the story. I'm thrilled to be working with Jennifer and Ravida on this project."
In 1984, Michael Rubbo (Waiting for Fidel) directed a feature length documentary about what motivates the celebrated writer's fiction and characters. Watch Margaret Atwood: Once in August.
Read the full press release about Payback.
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