Saturday, October 11, 2008

Adaptation


I'm a bookworm. I like to read. Alot. When I read a good book I usually do not like to see it portrayed on the big screen. I now forever associate Atonement with Keira Knightly and it is just - well, irritating. Most often, I find filmmakers are unable to capture the true essence of a novel, the beautiful nuances, all the little details.

Last night, was the exception to the rule. I saw Blindness.

Blindness is a novel I read a few years ago. Written by Nobel Prize winner Jose Saramago, it is a haunting exploration of the human condition which includes both the good and the very very bad. Civilization is struck by an infectious disease where all are cast into a "white" blindness. Only one woman can see and is a witness to the ensuing horror. It is extremely well written and despite its darkness (it is indeed very dark), remains one of my favourite novels.

Directed by Fernando Meirelles (City of God) and screenplay adapatation by Canada's very own Don McKellar, the movie remains startling true to the book. The movie was also visually stunning - full of surreal images of light and darkness, black and white. The acting, superb.

Here's the trailer......



I hightly recommend both the book and the film!

4 comments:

Heather said...

Did the movie follow the book closely? I wonder if they'll make a sequel out of 'Seeing.'

I've got Saramago's new book on the go right now - 'Death With Interruptions.'

cserdan said...

Hello Heather!!!

I thought it followed the book very closely! Although, I now want to go back and reread some of it. The movie did focus a bit on the doctor's marriage and I don't remember it being a focus in the novel.

I was surprised they made this into a movie, because so much of the book doesn't seem ready for "Hollywood".

How was Seeing? And Death with Interruptions? I think I may have to stock up on some new books!

Joanne said...

I enjoy reading books too but I wouldn't say I'm a bookworm. I'm very picky with what I read. Even if someone (like my husband) says to me 'you have to read this book' if I don't like the writing style or the way things are described, I won't finish off the book.

I don't mind reading a book and seeing the movie afterward though.
For instance, after I read "The Kite Runner" I went and saw the movie, which I did really enjoy although they skipped a lot of extra information which was in the novel. I still found that the book was far superior to the movie however.

Blindness is definitely on my movie to watch list. I like dark ;) Thanks for the heads up on the book too. I shall check it out!

Heather said...

'Seeing' is good, but not as good as 'Blindness,' I thought. But with all of the elections going on right now, it'd be a perfect read. I did enjoy it...and it was nice to see the characters from the first book developed some more.