Mary Wollstonecraft biopic “If Love Should Die” in the works by French director Mia Hansen-Løve

French filmmaker Mia Hansen-Løve has announced her eleventh film, a biopic about the 18th century philosopher and writer Mary Wollstonecraft titled If love should die. According to the project’s logline, the film will be set “on the eve of the French Revolution, when an impoverished young English woman makes the courageous decision to shape her life according to the ideals of the Enlightenment.” The film is produced by representatives of Mubi, Caspian Films, Les Films Pelléas, Mer Film, Our Films and Arte France Cinéma.

Wollstonecraft is known for feminist ideas about women in a time when there were few genders. Her most famous publication appeared in 1792. A defense of women’s rightswhich declared that men and women should be treated equally because there is no natural order between them. This piece of literature shaped the feminist movement and helped women take the step towards equality.

Regarding the project, Hansen-Løve recently said in a statement: “My aim is to capture this crucial era and the life of a woman that cinema has never looked at before with as much clarity and truth as possible. Mary Wollstonecraft is an icon in England, but unknown in France. That suits me: making a film about a character who is too predictable or too famous has never interested me. I am attracted to characters who are on a quest and have no certainties. The souls of artists, no doubt, but I am inspired by the most fragile and vulnerable among them.”

Hansen-Løve is known for her directing, screenwriting and acting. She won the Special Jury Prize in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2009 Cannes Awards for her film The father of my children and the Silver Bear for Best Director for her film Things to come 2016 at the Berlin International Film Festival. Some of her other most popular films are Bergman Island, One Fine Morning, EdenAnd Goodbye, first love.

No further information about the project has been announced.