Post 5: The Book Thief Adaptation (Best Sellers)

 

 

 What specific challenges would a filmmaker have in adapting your book to the big screen? Walk through some of the specific ways that the plot or characters would need to be changed to make it work. 

I think one of the biggest challenges in The Book Thief movie would be Max's day dreams about fighting the Führer. A large crowd surrounds them, and at the end, the whole crowd joins Hitler in the fight, and Max says that he can feel the punch from all the nation on him. The movie directors would have to work hard to make sure that those of the audience felt that with Max. I think it's a scene that should be included.

 

o   Explain three specific scenes you think are essential to keep (based on where you have read to so far) and not change in order for the adaptation to work. 

• Stealing apples from the farm with the older kids (spoiler- the leader of the pack leaves and they get a new leader, and it seems like something is going to happen in the future with the new leader and Rudy)
• When Liesl reads the first book that Max makes for her (a quality scene in the book, which could be very emotional on screen.)
• Liesl leaving the mayors' house for the last time (spoilers- the mayor and his wife can no longer have their laundry done by Liesls mother, but Liesl gets to keep a book, and throws a big tantrum)

 

o   Discuss two specific parts of your book you would have to cut if adapting it.  These could be plot events, subplots, minor characters, etc.  What would you have to exclude in order to include what’s most important?

• Liesls' brothers death/burial scene. I think a better way to tell that is through the flashbacks/nightmares she has in the begining of her stay. I dont think that is the best way to start a movie.
• As far as I have read, the children that they play soccer with can be cut out. They can still play soccer, but just never really go into detail of the kids like in the book.