MovieChat Forums > White Oleander (2002) Discussion > From book to movie = no sense

From book to movie = no sense

posted 10 years ago by gp88888
8 replies | jump to latest

Did anyone think major points in the story were not given enough attention to? Astrid's experience in each of the foster homes was barely developed. The relationships she had with her mother and boyfriend were glossed over. I didn't read the book but I was under the impression that the book probably went into greater detail about these things. I'm guessing the sake of trying to fit it in movie format, they had to jump from topic to topic quickly and truncated the material. Some book-to-movies can adequately do this but I think this fell short. A story like this (the trials and tribulations of someone in the foster care system) would have fit better into a television format.

[–] mysprouts-740-813856 10 years ago

I'm just now reading the book after seeing the movie 20 or more times. You're right, the movie really missed some important development.
I am amazed at Ingrid's relationship with Barry. It's along the lines of how she describes her feelings for astrids father Claus in the movie. She really loved Barry. And he humiliated her.
Astrid is a deeply feeling girl and she observes her entire world through descriptions and smells and metaphors. The book is well worth the $10 I paid to finally read it.
Nevertheless the movie is still a beautiful piece of cinema to me.

[–] cb33 10 years ago

The book is a beautiful novel. Do yourself a favor and read it. The movie, while good, doesn't even compare to the book!

[–] LovesConfusingJoy 10 years ago

White Olender is one book and movie I like equally. They are different but both great.

[–] lilmrshaynes 10 years ago

Agreed. The book was amazing. The movie was good, but I was very disappointed at how much was left out/skipped over.

[–] london777 8 years ago

On my DVD are four deleted scenes. They were all good and helped to explain parts of the story the movie glossed over. I wonder if it was the director's decision to omit them, or the studio's?

[–] lilmrshaynes 8 years ago

I'll have to see if I can find the deleted scenes online. I would love to see them. Not sure whose decision it was, but they really looked over some major character development with omitting them.

[–] london777 8 years ago

If you are responding to my post, the four scenes do amplify what is already in the film a little, but in no way touch on the major themes from the book which were omitted.

[–] trisul 8 years ago

But surely, the two are separate works of art, and need to be experienced as such. It is very rare that one can transfer a book into a movie, and there is no need for this to happen. It suffices to make a good movie, the book is just the initial phase of research, so to speak ..