is a deeply moving biographical drama directed by acclaimed New Zealand filmmaker Jane Campion. Based on the autobiographical trilogy by celebrated writer Janet Frame (To the Is-Land, An Angel at My Table, and The Envoy from Mirror City), the film chronicles the author’s extraordinary life journey—from a troubled childhood to international literary recognition. Told in three parts, each corresponding to a phase of Frame’s life, the film is a quiet, compassionate portrait of creativity, mental illness, and resilience.
The story begins with young Janet’s childhood in 1930s rural New Zealand, where she grows up in a working-class family marked by tragedy and emotional distance. Sensitive and introverted, Janet finds solace in books and writing. Her early life is shaped by the deaths of two siblings and the pressures of growing up in a world that does not understand her inner world. Despite her awkwardness and poverty, her intellect shines early on, hinting at the literary force she will later become.
As Janet enters adolescence and young adulthood, she begins to struggle with social anxiety and a sense of alienation. Her experience at teachers’ college becomes a turning point when she suffers a nervous breakdown. Misdiagnosed with schizophrenia, Janet spends eight years in psychiatric hospitals, enduring harsh treatments, including electroconvulsive therapy. The tragedy of this misdiagnosis is intensified by the fact that Janet is never truly mentally ill—only misunderstood and introverted in a time that offered few allowances for such differences.
The film’s most poignant moment comes when a scheduled lobotomy is cancelled—purely because Janet wins a major literary prize. It’s a chilling reminder of how close she came to losing her identity forever. After her release, Janet begins to write seriously and eventually travels to Europe, where she develops personally and professionally. She slowly builds a life of independence and recognition, culminating in her emergence as one of New Zealand’s greatest literary voices.
Three actresses—Alexia Keogh (child Janet), Karen Fergusson (teen Janet), and Kerry Fox (adult Janet)—portray Frame across the different stages of her life. Kerry Fox, in particular, delivers a haunting and quietly powerful performance, capturing Frame’s vulnerability, confusion, and growing strength without ever slipping into melodrama. Her physicality and speech reflect Janet’s awkwardness and depth, making her one of the most unforgettable characters in biographical cinema.
Jane Campion’s direction is sensitive and restrained, emphasizing atmosphere and emotion over conventional plot structure. The film’s tone is contemplative, and its visual style—soft lighting, natural scenery, and unhurried pacing—echoes Janet’s inner world. The beauty of New Zealand's landscapes contrasts with the clinical coldness of institutions, reinforcing the themes of confinement versus freedom, both mental and physical.
An Angel at My Table was met with widespread critical acclaim upon release. It won the Grand Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival and is often cited as one of the greatest New Zealand films ever made. More than just a biography, it is a tribute to the redemptive power of art and the strength of an individual voice that refuses to be silenced.
In the end, An Angel at My Table is not just the story of Janet Frame—it is the story of anyone who has ever felt different, isolated, or misunderstood, and who has dared to survive by turning pain into art.
