Post #5: The Book Thief Adaptation

The first thing the movie needs to include is how Liesel and the mayor’s wife have a connection.  When Rosa Hubermann sends out Liesel to collect the laundry; the mayor’s wife invites Liesel into the house and shows Liesel her library.  Liesel is amazed and every time she goes to pick up the laundry and she stays for a while to read.  After many visits to the house the mayor finds out and kicks Liesel out of the house and they say they can’t afford to have their laundry done anymore.  Liesel starts to "borrow” books from the mayor’s wife without her knowing.  The mayor’s wife does know and makes sure to leave a dictionary and a letter for her. They need to show they both have a love for books and learning and this is where Liesel gets the name the Book Thief.

The second thing they need to make sure the audience knows is that the narrator is Death.  If people haven’t read the book they would be confused about who was narrating the movie.  If they get rid of Death as the narrator, the book would different and you wouldn’t know as much detail or fully understand the circumstances.  It also gives you a different perspective than usual books, which makes the book unique.

The third scene they need to keep is showing the background of Max.  People who haven’t read the book will be confused on why Max chose Hans Hubermann to trust with his life.  If they didn’t explain everyone would wonder why he went to Hans and not someone else?  The back story of Max will help the audience understand the reasoning behind why he chose Hans which is that his father fought with Hans in the World War One and he kept his accordion for him.  Also, when Max is there they need to show the bond created between Liesel and him throughout the movie and how Liesel trusted him and loved him by reading to him when he doesn’t wake up for a while. 

One thing they should exclude from the movie is all of the soccer scenes.  There are so many of Liesel and Rudy and all of the other kids playing that it will be repetitive.  Although I did like reading these scenes it’s too many to keep in the movie.  They can keep at least one to show how Rudy and Liesel bond and become closer friends.   

The second thing they should cut is when Liesel rolls the cigarettes for Hans.  It’s not important to the book and the audience will still get the movie if it’s cut out.