Wildcat

The 2023 American biographical drama film directed by Ethan Hawke follows the life of writer Flannery O'Connor (Maya Hawke) as she returns to Georgia in 1950 to live with her mother, Regina (Laura Linney). Struggling to publish her first novel, she faces rejection from a publisher and is diagnosed with lupus, the same disease that claimed her father's life. Her illness and religious doubts lead to deep introspection, which is reflected in her writing. The film interweaves scenes from O'Connor's real life with dramatizations of her short stories, such as "Everything That Rises Must Converge" and "Good Country People," with actors playing multiple roles. The cast also includes Philip Ettinger (Cal Lowell), Rafael Casal (O.E. Parker), Cooper Hoffman (Manley Pointer), Steve Zahn (Tom T. Shiftlet), and Liam Neeson (Father Flynn). The film premiered at the 50th Telluride Film Festival on September 1, 2023, and had a limited theatrical release in the U.S. starting May 3, 2024.