Jill Godmilow

Waiting for the Moon

Jill Godmilow

• 1987 Sundance grand jury
• Score: 10.37

This smartly written drama based on the relationship between literary maven Gertrude Stein and her companion Alice B. Toklas is more of an imaginary portrait than a docudrama. The story is derived from impressions filmmaker Jill Godmilow gathered from Stein’s writing, ingeniously weaving fact with fiction to create a fascinating bio-drama. During a three-month period in 1936, Stein and Toklas play host to literary giants such as Ernest Hemingway and some of the most renowned names in 20th-century literature. Featuring an impressive cast, Waiting for the Moon tells the story of a unique friendship and evokes the ambiance of a fascinating moment in literary history.