If you’re a fan of memoirs, you should definitely already know about Michelle Zauner’s “Crying in H-Mart,” which chronicles the life of the musician as she dives deep into her Korean roots after the death of her mother. It’s a best-selling book and one of the most acclaimed memoirs in recent memory. And recently, it was announced as a feature film with Zauner returning to write the script. Now, we know who is directing the upcoming film.
According to People, Will Sharpe, of “White Lotus” fame, is set to helm the adaptation of “Crying in H-Mart.” As mentioned, the film is said to follow the story of Zauner, who is the driving force of Japanese Breakfast, an indie rock band. The film will showcase her relationship with her mother and her upbringing.
“There were lots of things that resonated with me as somebody who is half-Japanese, half-British, spent my childhood in Tokyo,” said Sharpe. “Some of the descriptions of being jet-lagged in your family’s kitchen felt very familiar to me.”
He added, “I found that it felt universal in its specificity. In that it’s so lovingly detailed about the experience of growing up around Korean food and the cooking of Korean food. For me, it would be Japanese food and remembering growing up going to the 7-Elevens and the convenience stores in Tokyo and the dumplings that my mother would make when I was unwell. And I felt like I could recognize that in the descriptions of the Korean porridge or the kimchi and how important that still is to Michelle and how food can carry certain other things within it about your life.”
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In addition to his work as an actor, Sharpe has also directed films such as “The Electrical Life of Louis Wain” and “The Darkest Universe.” He’s probably best known for his TV work in series such as “Landscapers” and “Flowers.” A lot of folks will probably recognize his face as one of the stars of Season 2 of “The White Lotus.”
It’s unclear when production will begin on “Crying in H-Mart,” but with Sharpe on board, this is definitely a film we’ll be excited to see.