Don’t you love it when you read a book
that’s a real page-turner – you become completely engrossed in the characters
and the story and you think, this would be great as a movie – and then you
hear, it is being made into a movie!
The
Book Thief by Markus Zusak is a fantastic book –
set in Nazi Germany during Hitler’s reign, it follows the path of a young girl,
Liesel Meminger, as she is abandoned by her mother, witnesses her brother’s
death, and is placed in the care of a foster family.
The characters are unconventional, yet
endearing; the story is tragic, yet desperately heartfelt; and the story is
told from a wholly unique perspective that I expect will be difficult for
filmmakers to translate from the page to the screen.
You see, The Book Thief is narrated by ‘Death’ – an all-seeing, all-knowing
character that has his hands full in Nazi Germany. Death takes a particular
interest in Liesel Meminger, and provides a close commentary on all of her plights
and endeavours.
Downton Abbey director Brian Percival will
be at the helm of the adaptation – it will be interesting to see what he makes
of Death… Will he take the tried and tested route of a cloaked spectral being,
hovering over a quivering Liesel with a pointing, skeletal hand?
And who will land the plumb role of Liesel?
She is nine-years-old when the story kicks off, and the young actress will need
to convey some very heavy emotional material that would even be a challenge for
Meryl Street.
Definitely an adaptation to watch.
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