Life goes on.
Alice Siebold’s adaptation of Pretty Bones once again reminded me why I don’t like books put on screen. The book is not about death, but about life. The death of Suzy Salmon, with which the story begins, is not given so many pages.
Throughout the book, a red thread runs the thought: “Life goes on.” Each of the characters copes with the death of a loved one in different ways; Suzy’s reflections and observations form the very essence of the book, and the fantastic element occupies one of the inconsequential roles that one forgets when immersed in the life of the Salmons. And he is present only because "Sweet Bones" is impossible without him, impossible without the hero-observer. In heaven, Susie becomes that hero, and on earth, Ruth Connors, whom I would call the elder Salmon’s successor.
The lives of heroes are made up of their little details. Ruana Singh's fragrant cigarettes, the number "5" on Lindsey's uniform, the Pennsylvania lockstone on Suzy's bracelet... This technique brings the characters to life.
I saw a different story in the film. And the story was about murder and retribution, and then it was about the Salmon family. The febrile series of events only remotely resembles the life described in the novel, there are no details that colored each figure, gave it density and volume.
One of the brightest images of the book is a picture depicting Abigail, Susie's mother. In that photo, she was the same as in her youth, honest with herself, a little out of this world. This picture shows her not a caring landlady but a woman and shows why she left the family. Her escape is a crucial part of the book, as are many not included in the film.
Eyes of the Ocean, this nickname has been forgotten.
But for the big screen, events are necessary, reflections are on the book pages, and the character of Suzy Salmon became not only the main one, but also took a large amount of screen time. Too much fiction - the beauty of the spheres is too bright, too unreal. What the third plan was given in the book, went to the first.
Pursuit, escape. Murder is punishment. In the film, Susie talks about hating her killer, overshadowing all feelings, quite understandable hatred. But I liked that in the end of the book, Susie is more relaxed about revenge. She is almost indifferent, and in indifference is the knowledge found in heaven. The knowledge that retribution will take place.
And yet there is an advantage to screening. This is a soundtrack created by Brian Eno and John Hopkins (his album with King Creosote I have been listening to for months). I read the book recently, I remember the details well, and perhaps that is why I was so picky about the film adaptation. But even without such a focus on small things, it’s easy to see how Alice Siebold’s Pretty Bones surpass Peter Jackson’s Pretty Bones.
6 out of 10 Original