MovieChat Forums > Identikit (1975) Discussion > The Novel

The Novel

posted 13 years ago by isotope_217
5 replies | jump to latest

Muriel Spark's novella is a short, powerful feminist indictment against a woman's "natural" place in society, and the portrayal of one woman's frustrated, self-destructive fight against these conventions.

When I read it - now years ago - I found it impressive and of a singular voice. Later, after digesting its ideas, I thought of how incredible a film it would be.

Then I found out it was made into a movie - this one. From all I've read and seen of it (stills and a trailer), it doesn't seem like it adapted the raw, unrelenting psychological force the book embodied.

I suppose it was the more restrictive times of filmmaking, coupled with E. Taylor as the star, that would inhibit the narrative intensity the original source material related.

However, from what is being released in contemporary cinema, perhaps some enterprising independent (possibly female) filmmaker would pick this novel up to adapt it into the gritty, difficult, confrontational film it should have become in the first place.

If you haven't read the novella, please do. It's intense and excellent. I could see it being adapted in the same hard style as Drive, Shame, Bellflower or Blue Valentine.

[–] ofumalow 13 years ago

You should still check out the film, which is readily available (it seems to be one of those films that tumbled into the public domain and thus has been released in a million cheap editions). I'm sure it's not up to the Sparks novel--haven't heard that one--but it's still pretty bizarre and interesting.

[–] ecrisisny 13 years ago

The book is a masterpiece, but I'm not sure how I feel about the film. In the hands of a Cassavettes or Antonioni level director it could have worked, but as is, I was left greatly disappointed.

Nowadays, I think a director like Michael Haneke or even the Dardennes could do it justice. The novella manages to be aloof yet oppressive, urgent while at the same time meandering, and their clinical, calculated styles would compliment it perfectly.

[–] LetThemEatCake01 9 years ago

What did the movie get wrong? What is missing?

[–] alan_ryder 8 years ago

You've got me thinking; Haneke could do a remake well, and imagine Juliette Binoche as Lise.

'Driver's Seat' had an Antonioni feel to it for me. It alternately reminded me of 'L'Avventura', 'Blow-Up' and 'Zabriskie Point'.

[–] LetThemEatCake (2717) 7 years ago

I have now read the novel and I must say it is a very accurate adaptation, and the movie is even better. If the movie failed to connect it's because the novel itself is flawed.