Sometimes movie adaptation from epistolary novels increase audience anticipation, hopes, curiosity and excitement. They want to see the creative works that actors and directors have created for the already known stories. Movie adaptations of epistolary novels connect readers straight to their hearts. These adaptations are introduction to a new audience of this fantastic genre. The success of these movies prove the enduring power and universal appeal of epistolary storytelling:
1. Les Liaisons Dangereuses by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos
It is a French novel, in this story two aristocrats exchange letters. This epistolary style of writing explore themes of seduction, manipulation, and betrayal among the French aristocracy in the 18th century. Many film makers have adapted this story to make a film. The famous one is “Dangerous Liaisons” starring Glenn Close and Malkovich.
2. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
This epistolary novel is tells the story of a teenager. He writes letters to an anonymous friend. In this epistle narration readers find themes of adolescence, mental health and the complexities of growing up. The letters describe a candid, thoughtful and a good examiner of own feelings personality of the protagonist. The movie was adapted in 2012, starring Emma Watson, Ezra Miller and Logan Lerman.
3. 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
It is an interesting story, in which a bookseller and an author exchange letters. The story is set in London. This film was adapted in 1987, starring Anne Bancroft and Anthony Hopkins. The story shows the love of literature and exhibit the power of friendship. The audience praised the movie adaptation for representing the nostalgic era depiction.
4. The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
It is a satirical epistolary novel in which a senior demon writes letters to his nephew. It is one of the best films based on epistolary novels that tells techniques of demons to corrupt human souls. This novel explores themes of morality, temptation and the nature of evil. It was adapted as a stageplay, radioplay and in an animated movie.
5. We need to talk about Kevin by Lionel Shiver
This is an emotional thriller and tells story of a mother, in which she exchanges a series of letters to her estranged husband. It is one of the epistolary Novels in cenima in which a mother discusses changing behavior of her child. An event had impacted her child’s life. The movie explores themes of guilt and responsibility. The movie adaptation was released on 2011, starring Tilda Swinton and Ezra Miller.
6. Where Rainbows End by Celelia Ahren
In this epistolay novel, characters exchange emails, letters and also other form of communication. It is a story of two childhood friends, the novel explores their live incidents. This was adapted into a movie as “Love, Rosie (2014) starring Lily Collins and Sam Clafin.
7. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
The Color Purple is a story of a 14 year old gril who writes letters to God. She is a young African American girl. She writes about her abusive father, teenage pregnancy and abusive marriage. It is one of the inspirational movies inspired by epistolary novels that teaches self discovery and struggle. Its movie adaptation was in 1985, starring Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg.
8. Possession by A.S. Byatt
The epistolary novel tells two love stories of two different era. One is plotted in the Victorian era and other one is in the present day. Through letters and journals modern day lovers uncover the love of previous age lovers. The film adaptation was in 2002, starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Aaron Eckhart. The movie explore themes of love, passion and enduring power of literature that connect people across time.
9. Perfume: The Story of a Muderer by Patrick Süskind Movies
The uniqueness of this epistolary novel made it famous. It is a story about a person who has an extraordinary sense of smell. It is set in 18th century France and explores the obsession of the protagonist. However, it is not strictly an epistolary novel but contain elements of it such as diary entries. The movie adaptation was in (2006), starring Ben Whishaw and Alan Rickman.
10. The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
In this epistolary novel, 13 year old girl writes diary and describes the story of survival during Holocaust. She writes her daily experiences while they were hiding from Nazis in Amesterdam. The story explores themes of fear and hope. The girl describes her relationship with her family, feelings, inner thoughts and aspirations. The movie was adapted in 2016, starring Lee van Acken and Martina Gedeck.
