Member-only story
The Art of Adaptation in Adaptation. (2002)
How screenwriter Charlie Kaufman turned his severe writer’s block into an acclaimed screenplay.
Known for its self-reflexive narrative and ingenious use of metafiction, the 2002 film Adaptation has cemented its legacy in cinema as an iconic contemporary film by critics and viewers alike. Directed by Spike Jonze and written by Charlie Kaufman, the film serves as a commentary on the act of adaptation — from written texts to the big screen. Indeed, since its early days, cinema has always looked closely at literary works for inspiration. From Pride and Prejudice to One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, the history of classic novels begetting classic films goes a long way. While some film adaptations are strikingly similar to their source material, others assert their creative liberty by distancing themselves from the text. Adaptation originates from screenwriter Charlie Kaufman’s venture to adapt The Orchid Thief, a non-fiction book written by author Susan Orlean about her investigation of plant dealer John Laroche. Vexed with his unsuccessful attempt to adapt the book, Kaufman is hit with an acute case of writer’s block. In a master stroke of flipping the script, he inserts himself and this exasperating adapting endeavor into the film’s narrative. This way, his struggle of adapting The Orchid Thief collapses onto…
