Book to Film - ADAPTATION

OCTOBER 11 Adaptation (Spike Jonze, USA, 2002, 114 mins)
Screenwriter Charlie Kaufman, fresh off the success of Being John Malkovich, had a problem. He was tasked with adapting Susan Orlean’s non‑fiction book The Orchid Thief but found the sprawling work of literary journalism about obsessive plant dealer John LaRoche impossible to crack. So, he started another screenplay that began: “Screenwriter Charlie Kaufman, fresh off the success of Being John Malkovich, had a problem…”

Teaming up once again with Being John Malkovich director Spike Jonze, Adaptation tells the story of Charlie Kaufman (Nicolas Cage), a neurotic screenwriter struggling to adapt Orlean’s book, while his twin brother Donald (also Nicolas Cage), writes the kind of commercial crowd-pleaser Charlie hates. After attending a Robert McKee writing seminar, Charlie pushes his adaptation further and further from the source material… and that’s when things really start to unravel. Charlie’s life begins to intersect with that of Orlean (Meryl Streep) and LaRoche (Chris Cooper), becoming increasingly outlandish and leading to an ending that self‑reflexively deconstructs both the art of adaptation and the act of screenwriting itself.

The real Susan Orlean was mortified when first shown Kaufman’s script but admired the completed film for how it skilfully honoured the themes of her book while refusing to adapt the book itself. Adaptation was a critical and commercial success, winning Chris Cooper a Best Supporting Actor Oscar. As the script was credited to Charlie and Donald Kaufman, it also had the dubious honour of being the first film nominated for Best Screenplay to be co‑credited to a fictional screenwriter.

This session will be presented by Damien Spiccia, who will host a discussion following the screening.

Susan Orlean’s The Orchid Thief is available in paperback, Kindle and audiobook editions.

Doors/Bar 1.00pm Film 2.00pm