Wake of Forgiveness: Casting Call!

[Rachel-K]

One of our favorite threads! It is your job to pick the perfect cast for the film of Wake of Forgiveness! I'm thinking this is going to be a tough one. Who plays Vaclav? Karel? Sophie? The brothers? Can we choose child actors for the early scenes?

There are many brutal scenes in the novel. Would a film version skate over these or handle them as directly (and lyrically) as the prose?

Would it be difficult to watch the boys grow up with their necks craned at such an angle for the duration of a film?

This novel brings up some really interesting questions about the translation from page to screen!

[literature]

My picks so far (I think I'm showing my age a little bit!):

Villasenor - Victor Mature

Graciela - a teenage Elizabeth Taylor or possibly Natalie Wood

Vaclav - a young Clint Eastwood

Karel - James Dean

Whiskey - Trigger

Graciela's Filly - Black Beauty

Raymond - Ricky Schroeder

There are many brutal scenes in the novel. Would a film version skate over these or handle them as directly (and lyrically) as the prose? 

I think the brutal scenes are vital to the story and would not be out of place considering all the violence in the movies nowadays.  The intended story by Bruce would be completely changed if the film version skated over the violence.  The descriptive bodily functions could be eliminated in the film version without losing anything, although I felt they added to the character's personalities in the book.

Would it be difficult to watch the boys grow up with their necks craned at such an angle for the duration of a film?

Hollywood can do amazing things with makeup.  There have been movies with distorted faces, bodies, one-eyed monsters, etc., that have done well at the box office so necks craned at an angle would just be another twist.  Once the viewer is absorbed by the story, the craned necks wouldn't really be that noticeable.

This novel brings up some really interesting questions about the translation from page to screen!

Unfortunately, Hollywood tends to take the best of a story and Hollywoodize it to meet their  $gross$ expectations at the box office, not caring whether or not they have deviated from the author's intent.  Even if Hollywood produced the story exactly, I really believe the writers would alter the prose and standardize it to be more in line with basic sentence structure.  Majority of people write and talk in simple sentences and using the prose as Bruce wrote it might be cumbersome for some to follow. 

Take for example The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Girl Who Played With Fire.  Hollywood is talking about producing their own version, but after reading both books and seeing both movies, the Swedish version did an excellent job in producing these movie and, in my opinion, Hollywood should just stay away from these two books. 

[CAG]

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Rachel-K wrote:

One of our favorite threads! It is your job to pick the perfect cast for the film of Wake of Forgiveness! I'm thinking this is going to be a tough one. Who plays Vaclav? Karel? Sophie? The brothers? Can we choose child actors for the early scenes?

 I think this would be difficult to cast but I am thinking of the following:

       Vaclav - Woody Harrelson

       Villasenor - Javier Bardem

       Karel - Jude Law

       Sophie - Renee Zellweger

       Garciela - Marisa Tomei

There are many brutal scenes in the novel. Would a film version skate over these or handle them as directly (and lyrically) as the prose?

I think a film version could handle them as directly but not as lyrically as the book.

Would it be difficult to watch the boys grow up with their necks craned at such an angle for the duration of a film?

That would be difficult but important to the story line.

This novel brings up some really interesting questions about the translation from page to screen!

My belief is there is always something lost in the translation from page to screen. It is especially difficult when the book is exceptional like The Wake of Forgiveness. However, that doesn't mean a screen adaptation can't be good and done well.  

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[coffee_luvr]

I am really no good at this; but in my mind, while reading the book, I kept seeing someone like Robert Duvall as the father.

[Deltadawn]

great casting picks!

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literature wrote:

My picks so far (I think I'm showing my age a little bit!):

Villasenor - Victor Mature

Graciela - a teenage Elizabeth Taylor or possibly Natalie Wood

Vaclav - a young Clint Eastwood

Karel - James Dean

Whiskey - Trigger

Graciela's Filly - Black Beauty

Raymond - Ricky Schroeder

There are many brutal scenes in the novel. Would a film version skate over these or handle them as directly (and lyrically) as the prose? 

I think the brutal scenes are vital to the story and would not be out of place considering all the violence in the movies nowadays.  The intended story by Bruce would be completely changed if the film version skated over the violence.  The descriptive bodily functions could be eliminated in the film version without losing anything, although I felt they added to the character's personalities in the book.

Would it be difficult to watch the boys grow up with their necks craned at such an angle for the duration of a film?

Hollywood can do amazing things with makeup.  There have been movies with distorted faces, bodies, one-eyed monsters, etc., that have done well at the box office so necks craned at an angle would just be another twist.  Once the viewer is absorbed by the story, the craned necks wouldn't really be that noticeable.

This novel brings up some really interesting questions about the translation from page to screen!

Unfortunately, Hollywood tends to take the best of a story and Hollywoodize it to meet their  $gross$ expectations at the box office, not caring whether or not they have deviated from the author's intent.  Even if Hollywood produced the story exactly, I really believe the writers would alter the prose and standardize it to be more in line with basic sentence structure.  Majority of people write and talk in simple sentences and using the prose as Bruce wrote it might be cumbersome for some to follow. 

Take for example The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Girl Who Played With Fire.  Hollywood is talking about producing their own version, but after reading both books and seeing both movies, the Swedish version did an excellent job in producing these movie and, in my opinion, Hollywood should just stay away from these two books. 

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[Deltadawn]

I have a couple of casting thoughts to add.....

Now that I'm thinking about it, Leonardo DiCaprio would make a great Karel.

And maybe Penelope Cruz for Graciela.

[Bonnie_C]

Several times as I was reading the story the character of Karel reminded me of the character of Tristin in the movie Legends of the Fall.  I think Brad Pitt would make an excellent Karel.

Bonnie

[scnole]

I agree with you Bonnie.   Brad Pitt would be a great choice to play  Karel.

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Bonnie_C wrote:

Several times as I was reading the story the character of Karel reminded me of the character of Tristin in the movie Legends of the Fall.  I think Brad Pitt would make an excellent Karel.

Bonnie

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[TudorRose]

This is a fun and interesting thread.  Here is my two cents...

Villasenor - Jimmy Smits

Graciela - Penelope Cruz or Selma Hyak

Vaclav - Clint Eastwood

Karel - Vigo Mortensen

Sophie - Renee Zellwegger

[sylvia387]

While I am extremely late coming into this conversation, I have to say I always pictured:

Vaclav:  Philip Seymour Hofman

Karel:    Emil Hirsch

[librarians_dau…]

Some good options so far. I would have to disagree with the Brad Pitt casting though, he just strikes me as too "pretty" for this book.

Vaclav- Clint Eastwood or Jeff Bridges

Villasenor- Javier Bardem

Karel- Daniel Day-Lewis

Sophie- Anne Hathaway

Graciela-Sofia Vergara

I also feel like you could find roles for the following- Steve Buschemi, John C Reilly, WIlliam Defoe, Helena Bonham-Carter, Johnny Depp

Director Wise I think this would be a good piece for the Coen Brothers or Martin Scorsese. I could see it done with lots of intense scenes, starting with an opening of the fields, light background music... I'm ready to write the screenplay. :-)

There are many brutal scenes in the novel. Would a film version skate over these or handle them as directly (and lyrically) as the prose?

I think the violence needs to be left in. It adds an element to the book/film that makes you understand where the characters come from and how they became so flawed.

Would it be difficult to watch the boys grow up with their necks craned at such an angle for the duration of a film?

I think it would be difficult almost to the point of distraction. Instead I would suggest that they have some other type of physical deforment, whether it be that they have scars and lacerations all across their backs from being whipped like animals, or a slight hand deformity that is noticable but doesn't stand out.

Obv when you turn a book into a movie certain scenes/elements have to be left out. If I were to choose what to exclude I would leave out Karel's affair with Elizka. Just my 2 cents. :-)

[literature]

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librarians_daughter wrote:

Some good options so far. I would have to disagree with the Brad Pitt casting though, he just strikes me as too "pretty" for this book.

Vaclav- Clint Eastwood or Jeff Bridges

Villasenor- Javier Bardem

Karel- Daniel Day-Lewis

Sophie- Anne Hathaway

Graciela-Sofia Vergara

I also feel like you could find roles for the following- Steve Buschemi, John C Reilly, WIlliam Defoe, Helena Bonham-Carter, Johnny Depp

Director Wise I think this would be a good piece for the Coen Brothers or Martin Scorsese. I could see it done with lots of intense scenes, starting with an opening of the fields, light background music... I'm ready to write the screenplay. :-)

There are many brutal scenes in the novel. Would a film version skate over these or handle them as directly (and lyrically) as the prose?

I think the violence needs to be left in. It adds an element to the book/film that makes you understand where the characters come from and how they became so flawed.

Would it be difficult to watch the boys grow up with their necks craned at such an angle for the duration of a film?

I think it would be difficult almost to the point of distraction. Instead I would suggest that they have some other type of physical deforment, whether it be that they have scars and lacerations all across their backs from being whipped like animals, or a slight hand deformity that is noticable but doesn't stand out.

Obv when you turn a book into a movie certain scenes/elements have to be left out. If I were to choose what to exclude I would leave out Karel's affair with Elizka. Just my 2 cents. :-)

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William DeFoe as Vaclav, good choice.

[deannafrances]

I know I am in the minority--but I am hoping they never make a movie of this book and all its violence and brutality.  It would be horrific to watch.  And the way movies are made nowadays, I am sure you would see every gory detail in close ups and they might even feel the need to add to the brutal sexuality and animal cruelty.

[Immortal-Spirit]

I'm not very good at this, but I've seen some good ideas. 

[AnneEK]

Yes,

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Rachel-K wrote:

One of our favorite threads! It is your job to pick the perfect cast for the film of Wake of Forgiveness! I'm thinking this is going to be a tough one. Who plays Vaclav? Karel? Sophie? The brothers? Can we choose child actors for the early scenes?

Vaclav - Robert Duval

Karel - Jude Law

Sophie - Michelle Williams

Villasenor - Jimmy Smits

Graciela - Penelope Cruz

The only child actors that comes to mind is Elle Fanning.

There are many brutal scenes in the novel. Would a film version skate over these or handle them as directly (and lyrically) as the prose?

These scenes could be handled well by a sensitive film maker.

Would it be difficult to watch the boys grow up with their necks craned at such an angle for the duration of a film?

Yes, it would be difficult to watch but would be crucial to the film.

This novel brings up some really interesting questions about the translation from page to screen!

I always enjoy books better than their movie counterparts, but I still like the movies.

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[camibones]

I can't see this book making a particularly good movie, mostly because I think that it would end up being too sensational. That said, there have been some really good picks already posted, but I think Salma Hayek would be a great Graciela and Demian Bichir would be fantastic as Villasenor. I also would want to cast Hannah Schygulla as the Widow Vrana (the midwife).

[JaneM]

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deannafrances wrote:

I know I am in the minority--but I am hoping they never make a movie of this book and all its violence and brutality.  It would be horrific to watch.  And the way movies are made nowadays, I am sure you would see every gory detail in close ups and they might even feel the need to add to the brutal sexuality and animal cruelty.

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But if we never made movies without violence and brutality, we would not have classics such as Schlindler's List or The Reader, both of which have to do with the Holocaust.  And what about Hitchcock's Psycho?  That's an interesting movie in that no violence is actually shown, only the indication of violence.  It's possible to make a movie without the gory close ups.  They would have to follow the plot as it relates to the horse race and sexual encounters to have the plot and character development make sense.  But I'm guessing the scene of Karel kicking the heifer would be excluded (I hope!)

[melissas]

I am not sure this book would make a great movie. The writing is too poetic to translate well onto the screen. I also don't think that I would personally care for the brutality and animal cruelty.

However, due to my love of certain westerns, I do think Clint Eastwood would be good for this movie as many others have already stated.

[Alnilan]

This is always fun, let's see:

Vaclav - Jack Nickolson

Karel -   Leonando di Caprio (or Brad Pitt)

Villasenor- Vincent Fox (polititians can be actors)

Kaymond- Jude Law

Graciela- younger Angelina Jolie

Sofie - younger Meryl Streep

[Kittysmom]

I totally agree with Deanna, I don't think this book would make a good movie, I know I wouldn't want to see it - too violent and sexual!