AFFLICTION
If you ever wondered what happens to those with an abusive childhood whenthey enter adulthood, then Affliction is the book to read because it hasall the answers that you might ever need in this connection. The cinematicversion of the book also does complete justice to the dark and negativethemes that are highlighted by Russell Banks. These themes have been veryeffectively transformed on the screen and the credit for this goes to PaulSchrader. The book deals with the life of a complete failure WadeWhitehouse, who is almost forgotten by his family like a very painfulmemory. His brother is the narrator who chooses to speak about Wade in adistant cold manner thus avoiding a direct connection with a man who wasmajor source of embarrassment for his family and friends. The narrator saysin the opening passage: "It is almost as if he never existed, or as if hewere a member of some other family or from some other place and we barelyknew him and never had occasion to speak of him. So that by telling hisstory like this, as his brother, I am separating myself from the family andfrom all those who ever loved him." Wade was a failure because he suffered a terribly abusive chi
However someviewers might fail to develop a connection with the Dafoe character in themovie because of its cold distant manner. Boththe movie and the book leave an indelible mark on the audience. For example, on some occasion movie deviates from the bookin its messages. Itpresents everything in the same way it is written in the book. Lack of emotions is evident from voice-over thattells what it feels about the leading characters and why he doesn't feelconnected with Wade even though he was his brother. " (Page 4)There are times when the book seems to be one step ahead of the movie interms of its impact on the readers but that is mostly because of thenarration style that is difficult to translate into an interesting script. But these deviations do not exactly hurt the real purpose of the book. The film has a singular focus with multiple characters andcomplex derivations. His entire life disintegrated because of hisemotionally painful relationship with an abusive father who does nothingbut hurl obscenities at his son and treat him like dirt. There are few deviations where story is concerned but dialogues andnarration have been altered to suit the cinematic version. And it did sowith unwavering performances and unflinching direction. But it is this affliction when it becomes overwhelminglypowerful that explains why some apparently sane people would commit violentcrimes. Even the narrator has done great job in the movie by keepinghis tone distant and cold.
Common topics in this essay:
Wade Page,
Wade Whitehouse,
Banks Schrader,
Sam Mckewon,
Sissy Spacek,
,
James Coburn,
Russell Banks,
Paul Schrader,
entire life,
abusive childhood,
distant cold,
cinematic version,
movie book,
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Acceptance Essays
