Meg Ryan ventures into direction

Los Angeles, Jan 31 (IANS) Actress Meg Ryan is set to make her directorial debut with "Ithaca".

The 52-year-old is excited to make the film, which is an adaptation of William Saroyan's 1943 novel "The Human Comedy", reports contactmusic.com.

"Ithaca' is a deceptively simple story, by turns stark and lyrical. It's sometimes shockingly unsentimental and yet, by some little miracle, never cynical. I am delighted to no end to bring a tale of such vibrancy and heart to the screen," Bang Showbiz quoted her as saying.

Ryan will also act in the film, which is about a telegram delivery boy in America during World War II who sends messages to a number of people and witnesses the consequences these have.

The actress will be joined by Sam Shepard, Melanie Griffith, and her 21-year-old son Jack Quaid in the cast of the film.