So, you’ve just experienced Christopher Nolan’s epic screen adaptation of Homer’s “Odyssey.” What to watch next? The options are plentiful. You could turn to other reinterpretations of ancient Greek myths and texts — from Don Chaffey’s “Jason and the Argonauts” to Pier Paolo Pasolini’s “Medea.” Or, you could choose a different path and dive into brilliant screen adaptations of great literary works — from cult arthouse to contemporary series hits.
“Big Little Lies”
This is an advertisement.
Television adaptations rarely manage to fully capture the magic of a book, but the first season of “Big Little Lies” was a pleasant exception. Producers and lead actresses Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman, along with a flawlessly selected cast, almost perfectly brought Liane Moriarty’s novel of the same name to the screen — one of the best contemporary “beach” bestsellers. The second season only amplified the enjoyment: luxurious mansions, dramatic family conflicts, and top-tier acting made the series a benchmark for escapism. And next year, a third season awaits viewers.
“The Hours”
My acquaintance with this story began in reverse — first, I saw the film released in 2002, and only then did I read Michael Cunningham’s novel. The picture literally stunned me with its melancholic beauty: the music, the cinematography, the acting — everything combined created an unforgettable impression.
After watching, I immediately bought the book and was no less captivated. “The Hours” is a reflection on life and death, where Virginia Woolf’s novel “Mrs. Dalloway” becomes the thread connecting the destinies of three women from different eras. The film itself is a true masterclass in acting: Julianne Moore, Meryl Streep, and Nicole Kidman deliver some of the best performances of their careers.
It’s remarkable that a novel with almost no external action but so much internal life and memory could be transformed into such a compelling film. This is largely thanks to director Stephen Daldry. Despite all its melancholy, “The Hours” ultimately leaves a very bright feeling.
“My Brilliant Friend”
The HBO adaptation of Elena Ferrante’s “Neapolitan Novels” is a true journey that unfolds over four seasons and four novels: “My Brilliant Friend,” “The Story of a New Name,” “Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay,” and “The Story of the Lost Child.”
At its core is the complex, years-long friendship of Lila and Lenù, which spans childhood, adolescence, love, loss, and decades of change. And if, after this, you crave even more Ferrante on screen, pay attention to the series “The Lying Life of Adults” and the film “The Lost Daughter” directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal.
“Patrick Melrose”
Benedict Cumberbatch stars in the five-part miniseries “Patrick Melrose,” released in 2018. His character is a British aristocrat trying to cope with past traumas and his own addictions. The series is based on the semi-autobiographical novel cycle by Edward St Aubyn: “Never Mind,” “Bad News,” “Some Hope,” “Mother’s Milk,” and “At Last.” If, after watching, you decide to pick up the books, Cumberbatch’s portrayal will almost certainly accompany you on every page. Just keep in mind: this is an extremely dark and emotionally draining story.
“The Shining”
In 1980, Stanley Kubrick adapted Stephen King’s novel “The Shining,” creating one of the most iconic horror films in cinema history. The plot centers on writer Jack Torrance, who agrees to be the caretaker of the Overlook Hotel during the winter season and arrives there with his wife and young son. Very quickly, the isolated mountain hotel begins to reveal its sinister secrets.
Although Kubrick took liberties with the book, which at the time displeased King’s fans, he managed to perfectly convey its main themes — domestic violence, alcoholism, loneliness, and gradual madness.
A sense of unease is generated by literally everything: the music, the framing, the geometrically precise interiors, the vivid color contrasts, and the long camera pans through deserted corridors. Even the scene where the boy rides his tricycle through empty hotel passageways becomes one of the most suspenseful in cinema. It’s no wonder “The Shining” has long been a classic, endlessly quoted and reinterpreted by other directors. Like King in his novels, Kubrick masterfully blends the supernatural with the mundane. And he tells the story of a man losing the battle against his own demons.
“Say Nothing”
American journalist Patrick Radden Keefe’s book meticulously reconstructs the story of sisters Dolores and Marian Price — the first women to become full members of the Irish Republican Army — and investigates the mysterious kidnapping and murder of Jean McConville, a mother of ten, who was taken from her Belfast apartment during the conflict known as The Troubles. Showrunner Joshua Zetumer created a rare example of an adaptation that not only replicates the source material but expands upon it.
This is an incredibly powerful, painful, and masterfully crafted series. And now, all that remains is to await the screen adaptation of Keefe’s new book, “London Falling.”
According to Vogue.com materials