The most striking feature from this last viewing of the 2008 Russian miniseries adaptation of the Brothers Karamazov were the further character developments of Smerdyakov and Ivan Fyodorovich. I feel that the miniseries portrays a more Smerdyakovian view of events, deliberately overplaying Ivan’s reactions during his discussion with Smerdyakov over his trip to Moscow. The miniseries seems to suggest that Ivan tacitly colluded with Smerdyakov over the dispatch of Fyodor Pavlovich. While reading the text however, I felt that Ivan’s actions were not as overtly indicative as Ivan’s approval for Smerdyakov’s proposed actions. In adhering to Smerdyakov’s chain of events from the start I feel that some of Ivan’s innocence is lost. It will be interesting to see how the miniseries is to deal with Ivan’s breakdown from Book XI.
Overall, I have to say that my impressions of the miniseries have not deviated much from what I outlined in my earlier post last week. In actually reading the novel I feel like I am able to better understand the events that are being portrayed on screen. A first time viewer, in contrast, would likely feel lost in the many transitions that occur between the characters and their respective stories. This constant transition, although present in the book as well, is not near as fluid in the miniseries. The initial scene with Ilyusha and the gang of schoolmates seems almost out of place, and had I not read the novel, would almost have doubted the events overall significance. In addition to his, the significant meeting at the Samsonov’s is entirely left to the viewer’s imagination.
On the whole it is interesting to view Dostoyevsky’s eclectic tale captured on screen. At the same time however it seems that the miniseries is incapable of accurately capturing all of the themes that are present in the text. As with any reproduction the writers needed to decide what details to keep and which to cast to the wayside. Unfortunately, in the manner in which Ivan is portrayed the miniseries explicitly touts the Smerdyakovian side of the story as the actual chain of events.
I agree with your statement that a first-time viewer would likely be very confused. I was also struck with wonder that the scene with the schoolboys seemed to appear so randomly. After spending several hundred pages with Dostoyevsky, I'm familiar some of the jumps the text seems to make. Occasionally, the movie narrator fills in the gaps. Smerdyakov does play a much more prominent role in the events in the movie version. I wonder why the director chose to present more of Smerdyakov? I'm really curious to see how the trial scene is portrayed in the film series, as well as Ivan's breakdown.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your perceptions of Ivan's reactions. While reading the text, there didn't seem to be any implications in his reactions to Smerdyakov. However, in the episode it was clear through Ivan's face that he was trying to communicate something to Smerdyakov. This scene was very telling that something was going to happen, and that they would be behind it.
ReplyDeleteIvan's reactions were definitely blown out of proportion. When reading the book it can be argued that Ivan was fed up and wanted to leave his family, perhaps he truly didn't care, but he definitely did not know of Smerdyakov's plans nor give him the ok. And yes, without actually reading the Brothers Karamazov it would be very hard to follow along. The scene with the school boys seemed completely random and you don't feel the necessity or urgency for Dimitry to get ahold of the 3000 roubles. However, it does shed light on a few things and is interesting nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteIn some honesty I wonder how different our perception would be if we watched the series first and then read the book.Overall, I agree with most of your points about the differences between the book and the movie. It is always hard to translate a book onto the screen and not losing anything to translation.
ReplyDeleteLike Annamarie stated, I am curious as to what our responses would be if we had seen the miniseries before reading the novel, or if we had watched it while reading. I feel like we would have a much different opinion of the characters and the story itself. I don't feel like we would get the full meaning out of the story if we had just watched the miniseries. Someone who hadn't read the book would probably come away from the miniseries with a very different response than we all have now that we are finished with the book. I wonder.
ReplyDeleteI never thought of that! I was simply looking at the way Ivan and Smerdyakov were behaving as an absolute portrayal of events. However, if indeed the director of the film is trying to put us into Smerdyakov's head... wait, maybe I don't want to go there.
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