Book version or screen version? Comparison

Nowadays the cultural reality meets with a situation in which films are remarkably more popular than books. Among young people it is common to discuss the newest adaptations or even plays without awareness of historical or autobiographical facts which made the story the way it is. Knowing the source of the movie provides us more information to understand the author.

Victor Hugo’s film adaptation of the book ‘Les Miserables’ has recently been nominated in six categories to Oscar Movie Awards and won three statues. But not many viewers were aware of the fact that it was actually made on the basis of the book. What drew attention of spectators was excellent production design and costumes but the story of French Revolution was omitted in discussions. It would probably be understood better if the knowledge of life of the author, who was a political activist, and the plot of the book was more commonly known.

Despite the fact that background information are important, while reading the book it is possible to become attached and pay more attention not only to characters but also to the plot. In contrary to the film, written descriptions do not give us ready pictures but leave the spaces for our imagination. We are the part of creating the reality of the world described and that is why we want to understand it and then remember it.

When it comes to the plot, film adaptations change the story for the needs of the director. The sequence or even presence of events is not the same as the author made it. The story is supposed to be told in two hours and that is not enough to become familiar with the whole plot. That often leads the viewers to the situation in which they do not understand the film accurately. What is more, the story is often made easier to make sure it is appropriate for educated and uneducated people.

Movies are known as one of the best ways of entertaining and the business of pictures starts to run our cultural world what causes the decrease of popularity of books. Both films and written texts are treasures. To understand them we should find this cooperation between them and read the book as a source to comprehend the movie.