After watching the film write a short essay to discuss:

• your different response to novel and movie: in which way are the two products similar, different

• different effects creted (which devices chosen explain for the different effects)

• how the two love stories are conveyed

• how the past is relevant to understand the present

• how characterization is built up

• how past love stories may seem more or less modern and unconventional than present love stories

• how characters face life and passion

• quality of actors performance

• message the film director wants to convey

• similarity or difference of textual and film message

• the debate on truth in the film

• how the idea of postmoderinity is conveyed if any

• evaluation of film from a personal point of view

You can find some differences between the novel and the film. The movie is shorter and more direct than the novel. On contrast, the movie follows rigidly the content of the novel. Therefore while the person who watches the film can immediatly understand the relationships between the characters and the story line, the person who reads the book can find more difficulties in following all the events.

The two love stories developed in the same time because of their parrallelism. It is possible a comparison between them. The love story of the poets runs parallel to the love story of the scholars.

The past is important because you can better understand the present: through the love story of the poets you can better grasp the relationship between the researchers. 

Characterization is built up through dialogues, actions, movements, and ways of behaving and thinking.

Characters face life with a strong will and ambition because they are eager to reach their objectives and find out hidden stories.

I think that the performance of actors is brilliant because they are able to convey emotions and feelings.

The message the film director wants to convey is the incessant research to discover the truth and the relationships that are characterized by passion. In the novel, Mrs. Byatt, is also questioning the existence of a single truth and the importance of the research and the academy.

The idea of Postmodernity comes to surface thanks to pastiche, fragmentation in narration and through the concept that no one can know the truth.