The Daily The Sunday Read: ‘How Noah Baumbach Made “White Noise” a Disaster Movie for Our Moment’
7 snips
Dec 4, 2022 Jon Mooallem, a contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine, joins to discuss Noah Baumbach's film adaptation of 'White Noise.' They explore the profound impacts of the pandemic and personal loss on Baumbach's creative process. The conversation delves into themes of absurdity and mortality, revealing how real-life chaos influences storytelling. Mooallem highlights the film’s paradoxical reality, drawing connections to iconic filmmakers and addressing deep societal anxieties, all while reflecting on familial bonds and the essence of memory.
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Awards Season and COVID-19
- Noah Baumbach and Greta Gerwig navigated Hollywood's awards season, attending numerous events.
- Amidst the celebrations, they learned about the cancellation of their films' Chinese releases due to COVID-19.
Rereading White Noise
- During a post-Oscars vacation, Baumbach reread DeLillo's White Noise.
- He began discussing the book with Laura Dern while simultaneously reading a news article about the emerging COVID-19 pandemic.
Satire and Meaning
- White Noise satirizes a world saturated with consumerism and media, mirroring Baumbach's own upbringing.
- The novel's characters grapple with information overload, seeking deeper meaning in everyday experiences.
