Netflix's latest hit film, 'Voicemails For Isabelle,' has quickly become the number one movie among UK subscribers, leaving viewers emotionally moved and curious about its origins. While the film is not based on a specific true story, writer and director Leah McKendrick has revealed that it draws heavily from her personal experiences.
The Film's Premise and Popularity
The movie follows Jill, who copes with her sister's death by leaving voicemails about her chaotic life in San Francisco. When the number is reassigned, an Austin real estate agent begins receiving the hilariously confessional messages. Since its release at the end of last week, it has topped Netflix's charts, with some fans rewatching it repeatedly and describing it as an 'emotional wreck.'
Inspiration from a Comedy Club
McKendrick, 39, who also appears in the film as Breeda, first wrote the script seven years ago. The idea sparked after she attended a comedy club showcase to support her then roommate. During the show, a comedian performed a skit about their father leaving mundane voice messages. The next comedian joked that their dad had not called in three years because they had died. McKendrick told People that she was the only one who laughed, and the concept of leaving messages for lost loved ones took root. She recalled thinking, 'If my dad dies, I won't be waiting for him to call me back because my dad doesn't call me back and he's alive. And then I thought if my sister died, I'd be waiting for her to call me back. And then I thought, no, if my sister died, I would just keep calling her.'
Real-Life Voicemails to Her Sister
The premise was reinforced when McKendrick's younger sister moved to New York for university. McKendrick admitted she would leave her sister voicemails about her daily life, sharing details about horrible dates or career struggles. She told People, 'I would just let it all hang out. And what a horror story it could be if somebody were to ever hear my most unfiltered self. But you would know that if somebody fell in love with that unfiltered self, it would be real.'
A Love Letter to Family
Though classified as a rom-com, McKendrick considers the film a love letter to her sister. She said, 'I think if you've experienced true love through family, you don't settle when you're searching for it in romantic love because you know what it feels like... I've known since I was 4 years old, and she (my sister) came home, what true love was.'
'Voicemails For Isabelle' is now streaming on Netflix.
