Atonement

[intertext]

I don't think the adaptation of an overtly metafictional novel is ever completely successful, at least in the eyes of those familiar with the original. A movie that I personally consider to be one of the best adaptations of a novel, The English Patient, succeeds as a movie because it had the courage to BE a movie, to abandon any attempt to capture

Comments

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[asakiyume]

This makes me interested in the book, which I haven't read. And how about The English Patient--can I enjoy it without having read the book? Your remarks imply so...

Speaking of metafictional novels (if it's right to use that term for this novel)--have you read Possession, and if so, what did you think? That's one that I think must translate poorly to the screen (I know a movie's been made, but I haven't seen it.)

[lidocafe]

[intertext]

I think you would be fine seeing the movie of The English Patient without having read the book. (but read the book - it's wonderful - and read Atonement, which is even more so)

And yes, I loved Possession and saw the movie, which was disappointing. Actually the Victorian bits in the movie were more interesting than the present day story.

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[wordweaverlynn]

Have you seen and read The French Lieutenant's Woman? Harold Pinter's screenplay uses completely different techniques to recreate the doubleness of the narrative. It does work, but it's a long way from footnotes.

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[intertext]

I've done both, and in fact the movie is gorgeous and captures the book well (another in a short list of extremely successful adaptations). It's Alan Bates (when young and very attractive) and Julie Christie, and Dominic Guard as the boy - what's not to like! I saw the movie first, though, which tends to make you more lenient towards the movie.

And although the movie of The French Lieutenant's Woman failed for other reasons, Pinter did quite a good job of attempting to capture the metafictional aspects of the book. We missed having John Fowles sitting in the railway carriage with Charles and Sarah, though :)

[lidocafe]