Oregon Musician Michelle Zauner’s Memoir, “Crying in H Mart,” Will Be Made Into a Movie

Zauner grew up outside of Eugene, and returned to her home state in adulthood to care for her terminally ill mother.

4436_Music-Calendar_Japanese-Breakfast_Belle-And-Sebastian_Zoo-Concerts_Oregon-Zoo_Katie-Reahl_17 Japanese Breakfast performing at the Oregon Zoo (Katie Reahl)

In less than three years, Michelle Zauner’s Crying in H Mart has gone from New Yorker essay to New York Times bestseller to a feature-length film deal.

The Oregon-raised musician and author’s memoir is set to become a movie, The Hollywood Reporter first reported.

Released just six weeks ago, Crying in H Mart deals with Zauner’s relationship with her mother, her Korean heritage, and the genesis of her musical project, Japanese Breakfast. It’s largely set in Oregon—Zauner grew up outside Eugene, and returned to her home state in adulthood to care for her terminally ill mother.

Zauner will adapt the book herself and provide the soundtrack. The project will be released by MGM’s Orion Pictures and produced by Miss America’s Stacey Sher and Girls’ Jason Kim.

It’s been a busy week for Zauner. Three days ago, she released the dreamy, buoyant Jubilee, her third album as Japanese Breakfast.

Related: Musician Michelle Zauner, aka Japanese Breakfast, Didn’t Much Like Growing Up in Eugene. In Her New Memoir, She Explores Her Oregon Roots.

Willamette Week’s reporting has concrete impacts that change laws, force action from civic leaders, and drive compromised politicians from public office. Support WW's journalism today.