Seeing a beloved book adapted for film or television always ignites interesting opinions. Recently, there’s been an influx of literature making its way onto our screens. From the drama-filled pages of Sally Rooney’s “Normal People” to the chilling dystopia in Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale”, the adaptations seem endless. Yet, the eternal question remains: does the screen manage to do justice to the written words?
Perhaps we’re drawn to these adaptations because of our human instinct to visually comprehend a story. However, narratives in books allow us to imagine characters, scenes, and even feelings in our own unique ways. When a story is adapted, it’s fascinating to see whether our imagination aligns with that of the filmmaker’s.
Some book-to-screen adaptations have received unprecedented success. The “Harry Potter” series, “Gone Girl”, and “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” are just a few examples where the directors remarkably mastered the art of translation from text to visual.
However, there have been instances where an adaptation has fallen short of expectations. Complaints usually range from omitted key elements and characters to altered storylines and simplified narratives. So, should we keep our favorite books as just that, books, unaltered by the guidelines and restrictions of cinema and television?
What I find equally appealing is how the mention of a film or series adaptation prompts many of us to pick up the original novel. It intensifies our expectations and, 🤔
