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LIZ Gilbert (Julia Roberts) is a modern woman on a quest to marvel at and travel the world while rediscovering and reconnecting with her true inner self in Eat Pray Love. At a crossroads after a divorce, Gilbert takes a year-long sabbatical from her job and uncharacteristically steps out of her comfort zone, risking everything to change her life.
In her wondrous and exotic travels, she experiences the simple pleasure of eating in Italy, the power of prayer in India, and, finally and unexpectedly, the inner peace and balance of love in Bali. Based on an inspiring true story, this film proves that there really is more than one way to see the world.
Directed by Ryan Murphy the film stars, James Franco, Richard Jenkins, Viola Davis, Billy Crudup, and Javier Bardem. The movie is based on Elizabeth Gilbert's memoir by the same name. It is a self-described search for everything and has achieved extraordinary success, selling more than six million copies and has been translated into 40 languages.
It is the book that attracted Roberts to the project, along with the chance to work with Ryan Murphy, the film's co-writer/director. She said: "I love the way the book talks about life experience, searching for answers, and how meaningful people can be in our lives.
"I think that's really such a vibrant story. It's great to be part of it, and part of it with Ryan at the helm of it - it was a delicious endeavor."
"Everybody has a journey, a moment in their lives when they need to redefine who they are and what they're looking for," says Roberts. "Liz's journey is very specific and very visual, in a way that's very appealing as a story, but it's also a universal story that can apply to anybody."
Murphy, best known for his work with the Golden Globe-winning television series Nip/Tuck and Glee, has garnered acclaim for his keen and realistic dialogue. He wrote the screenplay with Jennifer Salt, with whom he previously collaborated on Nip/Tuck.
"Ryan and Jennifer did a very reverential adaptation," says Roberts. "Ryan was really in sync with Liz Gilbert and talked to her a lot - they tried to be very true to the book. There comes a moment in any film adaptation where things have to be a little bit different, but we always protected the spine of the story - Liz's journey of self-discovery."
The film-makers have also taken effort in shooting in the real locations that Gilbert visited on her journey as much as possible. Not only would the production shoot in the real locations, they would also shot the film in chronological order. In doing so, Roberts says, it added a layer to her performance.
"We experienced all the same emotional responses Liz goes through," she says. "It made it an incredible experience."
Eat Pray Love will be released in Bahrain theatres tomorrow.
