What Makes an Adaptation?

Our reading of To Kill a Mockingbird and subsequent viewing of the cinematic adaptations has lead me to think a lot about the classic phrase, “The movie’s OK, but the book was better.” Upon closer examination, this question raises some very interesting questions: How true must a film adaptation be to the original work? What are the most important aspects of novels that must be represented accurately in film adaptations? What are the most accurate ways to depict a novels message on the screen?

With these questions in mind, I must admit that during my viewing of To Kill a Mockingbird I did find myself thinking, “The movie’s OK, but the book was better.” However, and perhaps most importantly, I did find although I found “the book better,” I also thought the movie portrayed the novels message in an accurate manner. Thus, it seems the film adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird provides some insights as to how adaptations should most accurately represent a work.

Overall, I think the film adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird most effectively represents the atmosphere Lee created in her novel. The film captures both the adventurousness and imagination of children, while at the same time representing accurately the racial tensions of depression-era southern Alabama as depicted in Lee’s novel. Most important then, I think, is that although the plot of the film takes liberty in the chronology of Lee’s novel, Lee’s message is still captured. Perhaps this capturing of message is what is most important in creating successful adaptations, more so that staunch accuracy to the original text.