Director’s theme in the film adaptation of a literary work

Abstract

The purpose of the article. The article focuses on the process of film adaptation as a transformation of a literary text into a cinematic one. This phenomenon is mostly considered from the point of view of literary studies: the construction of dramatic structure, typology, comparative studies, screenwriter’s creativity, etc. However, the role of the director in film adaptation remains beyond the attention of scholars. This study examines the specifics of the film adaptation process in terms of the influence of the director’s theme, which is a manifestation of his or her personality. The methodology. We have used the analysis (of theoretical works on screenwriting and directing, research in the field of art history, psychology, etc.), typology (of structural elements and expressive means), systematization (of directorial techniques for transforming a literary basis into a screen work), observation (of the creative process in cinema), induction (based on practical experience) and modeling of the principles of the director’s work. The results can be used in training programs and practical activities of directors, screenwriters, film critics, art historians, and cultural critics. The paper provides examples on the basis of which practical principles are formed that can help in the creation of film adaptations. The scientific novelty lies in the fact that for the first time a comprehensive analysis of the transformation of a literary work into a screen work from the perspective of a director, its comprehension and systematization of directorial techniques in the process of film adaptation will be carried out.