As a film enthusiast who’s spent countless hours poring over the rich tapestry of cinema history, I can confidently say that José Avelino Gilles Corbett Lourenço’s Young Werther has left an indelible mark on my cinematic landscape. This modern reimagining of a classic Romantic tale is a testament to the timeless nature of love and passion, wrapped in a delightful rom-com package that resonates with the contemporary audience.
In Hollywood, it seems like the focus is on acquiring rights for novels and turning them into movies, doesn’t it? If you keep up with industry news, you’ll notice that often, newly released bestsellers are being snapped up by studios or filmmakers to be transformed into films. However, there are still countless classic works from centuries past that haven’t been brought to the big screen yet, or have been given a fresh interpretation for today’s audience. Even if a work has already been adapted before, like The Sorrows of Young Werther, which was made into several forgotten foreign films including a German period drama in 1976, it doesn’t stop new versions from being created. For instance, the upcoming film Young Werther is a modern take on this Romantic classic, presented as a romantic comedy.
Filmmaker José Avelino Gilles Corbett Lourenço has crafted an intelligent, touching, optimistic, and hilarious reinterpretation of the original story. MovieWeb recently had a chat with Lourenço about the origins of his film adaptation. According to him, “It was one of those instances where I’d read the book in college for a class. I enjoyed it then, and it stayed on my shelf. Later, after experiencing some personal romantic relationships, I revisited it and found it resonated with me in a new light.
In a flash, I thought, ‘This would make an incredible English production!’ It’s already been transformed into operas, plays, films, comic books, and more, in various European languages for years. Seeing its impact worldwide, I felt compelled to give it a try. The characters and themes resonated with me as being timeless and relevant today. Without hesitation, I plunged headfirst into the project.
For individuals who aren’t familiar with epistolary novels such as “The Sorrows of Young Werther”, these are books that are written in the style of letters. Lourenço explained his approach to adapting this distinctive style for contemporary storytelling in movies by saying, “At first, during the development phase, I thought perhaps he’d be on the phone with [Werther’s friend] Paul, or maybe he’d be texting or sending emails. But then I decided against showing lots of typing.
In my perspective as a movie reviewer, one noteworthy transformation was introducing Paul initially to serve as a vessel for Werther’s emotional outpouring. However, upon reflection, I realized this was more than just a plot device; it was a golden chance to flesh out Paul’s character, giving him a significant role in the storyline and embarking on his own journey. This journey culminated in Paul discovering a glimmer of love, which ultimately served as the spark that ignited a confrontation with Werther, compelling Werther to reconsider his own emotions.
Revisiting the ‘Controversial’ Book
Despite the fact that the main actors in the movie, Douglas Booth and Patrick J. Adams, hadn’t read the original book before joining Lourenço’s film production, they were fully aware of its revolutionary impact on European society after its release. As expressed by Patrick J. Adams:
I find it intriguing that this book was so contentious during its time, as it swept across the globe like a tempest, marking the end of the Enlightenment – an era characterized by extreme rationality, science, and the belief in using reason to control one’s world. This was a unique period indeed, and then came along this book that explored passion, its perils as well as its pleasures, sorrows included. Werther stands out as such a vivid contrast to the ideals of that time, personified by figures like Albert. I admire how this work sparked controversy, how it made an impact, and how it still resonates today – feeling fresh, authentic, and honest. José’s adaptation of it has proven to be truly captivating.
Booth also commented on the source material, in our separate interview with the rising star, “I hadn’t read it before, but I’d obviously heard of it, and I very much enjoyed hearing the story about Napoleon carrying it into battle and, like, carrying a copy over his heart for Josephine, and it being sort of the Twilight of the day, and everyone sort of imitating Werther’s actions at the end of the film, you know, all these sort of heartbroken teenagers. So yeah, I hadn’t read the source material, but then I very much enjoyed, once I’d read the script, going back and seeing how José had woven this classic story of love, passion, the heartbreak, individuality, unrequited love, and woven it into this modern tale set in Toronto.”
From Lionsgate, Young Werther will be released in theaters, on digital and on demand Friday.
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2024-12-14 08:01