3 Reasons "Where the Crawdads Sing" Movie Adaptation was Excellent
Book vs. Movie
Where the Crawdads Sing
Novel by Delia Owens
Let's be honest... more often than not most film adaptations don't imbue the same essence as the original book. It's challenging to trust that productions will accurately transform the text we love into captivating visuals while maintaining the core elements of a story. But you can bet we will buy a ticket to watch it on the big screen. I enjoyed both the book and film, and I will tell you three reasons why Where the Crawdads Sing movie adaptation was a true accomplishment.
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Dalia Owens concluded this novel at 368 pages on the G.P Putnam's Sons trade paperback edition, 2020.
Where the Crawdads Sing movie adaptation surprised me. I’m not alone when I say the producers stayed true to the book. While they made changes that altered the structure and various scenes, they never took away from the essence of the story. Productions inevitably transform elements of novels because they can't include everything written, the movie would be four + hours long if they did so.
If you haven't read the book, pick it up at your local library this summer. Then go and stream it on Netflix, compare the two for yourself, and tell us your thoughts in the comments below!
Summary
A wild young woman, Kya Clark lives isolated in the marshlands of North Carolina as her large family slowly separates because of their alcoholic father. Young Kya is the last of her kin to stay with him; she lives within his shadow, not daring to spark his anger, leading her to raise herself. Her isolation causes her to learn how to survive this world from nature. And like it, elements of life and humanity are harsh; Kya is discriminated against in her town because of her impoverished lifestyle. Kya is labeled, "the marsh girl”.
With the help of a friend, Tate teaches her how to read and write, showing her necessary human skillsets. He becomes a protector and guide for her; it's no surprise when he shows her how to love. But they were kids, and life is complicated, so when Tate leaves for college, Kya can't help but feel that everyone she loves abandons her.
Kya observes creatures of the marshlands and learns everything from nature - particularly from fireflies. In 1969 when Chase Andrews is found dead, the whole town accuses “the marsh girl” since they engaged in a secret romance before his death. Chase's intentions are never pure, and their love is dishonest. In this coming-of-age story, we learn how isolation affects our protagonist as she navigates her desire to find community while protecting herself from the cruelties of the world in order to survive.
Grab your copy of the book!
Three reasons Where the Crawdads Sing movie adaptation was excellent.
Casting
Stayed true to the original
Executed themes and motifs
1. Casting
The Casting Director found a wonderful ensemble that embodies the essence of the characters we read.
Daisy Edgar-Jones gave subtext to Kya's emotional depth. Because she was an isolated character, she carried the entire film. Daisy needed to bring Kya to life as a mostly silent character; she showed a range of emotions from fear, strength, youth, joy, and cleverness.
Harris Dickenson played the antagonist and never missed a beat; we hated him just as much as we did while reading the book.
The chemistry between Tate and Kya was there, but sadly Taylor John Smith was the weakest performance of the leading cast.
2. Stayed true to the original
Several plot points were cut from the original when making this movie. For example, the poet Amanda Hamilton was never mentioned, and Kya's family - particularly her older brother Jodie, played less of a role in the film. Although they can't include every detail in the screenplay, this movie adaptation stayed fairly true to the original.
There are pros and cons to altering a book for a script. In this case, a major con was that Jodie played a pivotal role in the book, and you don't feel the depth of their relationship in the movie. But taking out the poems by Amanda Hamilton doesn't take away from Kya becoming a published author; it was a fair call to cut it.
3. Executed themes and motifs
** Spoilers **
When dramas incorporate themes such as the afterlife within a film, the execution can be so poor it ruins the movie. When done well, it's cathartic for viewers.The screenplay, Where the Crawdads Sing explored this theme while creating an atmosphere of believability.
Let me provide an example of what I mean. In the film, during the scene where Kya greets death, her mom visits her as a spirit. Most of the time, this is hard for dramas to pull off without taking viewers out of the story because it “looks and feels” fake. That's not the case in this adaptation. The scene gripped me to my core; they say that loved ones greet us on our deathbeds; they guide us from this life to the next. I could weep.
When it comes to motifs, both the book and film delivered. The representation of the shell necklace and the incorporation of the fireflies gave this story depth. Although the ending was ambiguous, you can infer the outcome because of these literary devices.
There you have it. Three reasons why Where the Crawdads Sing movie adaptation was excellent. Now, other elements may captivate viewers— the cinematography and the pacing. But I’m leaving it here - tell me your thoughts. Did you love it? Did you hate it?
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