Literary Adaptation in Film: A Boon or a Bane? A Study in Paulo Coelho’s Veronika Decides to Die

Abstract

This paper focuses on the movie adaptations of literary work. It is about the advantages and disadvantages of converting a novel into a movie. Some of the advantages are visual storytelling, entertainment value, wide audience reach, and collaborative creativity. Disadvantages are time constraints, loss of depth, changes in adaptation, and commercial pressures. In this novel, the protagonist tries to commit suicide by swallowing sleeping pills. Veronika is fed up with her monotonous life and she finds no meaning in her life. Veronika is saved and admitted to a mental institution called Villete. Dr. Igor is the director of the institution who is trying to write a thesis on vitriol poisoning. He believes that vitriol poisoning is the reason for anxiety and depression. He decides to use Veronika for his research. He lies to her that she suffers from a irreversible heart condition and she would die within a week. This awareness creates a change in Veronica’s personality. She starts to do things she likes and it creates a desire in her to overcome her suicidal thoughts.