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Join me – The Bookish Gent as I embark on a literary journey unravelling the enigmatic dance between pages and screens. In the spotlight, the hauntingly beautiful narrative of “All the Light We Cannot See” takes centre stage. Netflix has brought this literary gem to life, setting the stage for a compelling face-off against its original form – the written word. Lets delve into the captivating world of ‘All the Light We Cannot See’ to decide: Does the Netflix adaptation shine as brightly as the acclaimed novel, or does the magic of the written word outshine the screen? Let battle commence. It’s a Netflix vs. book showdown!
What happens in the book
In 1940, young Marie-Laure and her father Daniel (played by Mark Ruffalo in the show) escape Nazi-occupied Paris. They seek sanctuary in Saint-Malo with Daniel’s uncle Etienne, a reclusive WWI veteran grappling with PTSD, and his housekeeper, Madame Manec. Concealed from Marie-Laure, Daniel guards a legendary diamond, the Sea of Flames, a precious and supposedly cursed jewel from the Paris museum of natural history where he works, determined to keep it from the clutches of the Nazis.
Simultaneously, 14-year-old Werner, a devoted listener to Etienne’s radio broadcasts, faces a harsh separation from his younger sister Jutta . Recognising Werner’s engineering talent when he repairs a Nazi official’s radio, he is sent to an exclusive and brutal Nazi military school, the National Institute. At 16, Werner is conscripted into the German army, tasked with finding and eliminating anti-German radio broadcasts—a role he performs with excellence, albeit reluctantly.
Fast forward two years, and Marie-Laure and Werner’s fates intertwine in the besieged city of Saint-Malo, shelled by the Allied Forces in the aftermath of D-Day. Stranded and seeking refuge in her great-uncle Etienne’s attic during the bombardment, Marie-Laure takes to the airwaves using Etienne’s radio. In a twist of destiny, Werner, tasked with locating the broadcast signal, hears Marie-Laure’s voice and faces a momentous decision.
In the shadows, Sergeant Major Reinhold von Rumpel, a Nazi official and gemologist fixated on the Sea of Flames, has traced the precious stone to Saint-Malo. Determined to possess it, he will stop at nothing to achieve his sinister goal.
Netflix changes it up
Netflix’s adaptation of All the Light We Cannot See alters the trajectories of key characters like Daniel, Etienne, and Werner.
In the original novel, Daniel faces arrest for suspected treason during his attempt to return to Paris in 1940. Sent to a German prison camp, he ultimately succumbs after 1943. The Netflix series takes a darker turn, with von Rumpel personally torturing and killing Daniel in his pursuit of the whereabouts of the Sea of Flames. Across both mediums, Daniel leaves the mythical gem, said to confer immortality with a heavy toll on loved ones, concealed within the scale model of Saint-Malo—a poignant guide for Marie-Laure.
The series makes a significant departure in Werner’s narrative, concluding shortly after he saves Marie-Laure from von Rumpel’s clutches, rather than extending into the aftermath of the Battle of Saint-Malo. Reflecting the novel’s plot, the show depicts Werner’s arrival in France, tasked with identifying the source of a French resistance transmission. However, he discovers that the voice behind the broadcast is the same man who hosted his cherished childhood radio program. In a poignant twist, Werner pretends not to hear the signal, rescuing Marie-Laure from von Rumpel’s imminent threat after hearing her desperate pleas for help
Here’s where the paths significantly diverge. In the book, Marie-Laure guides Werner to a gated grotto in the city, where she relinquishes the Sea of Flames to the ocean, believing it’s the only way to break its curse. She hands Werner the key to the grotto gate inside the miniature model of Etienne’s house from Daniel’s Saint-Malo replica. Werner ensures Marie’s safety before being captured and sent to a U.S. prisoner-of-war camp. There, he falls fatally ill and accidentally steps on a German landmine, emphasizing the novel’s message about the futility of war.
Decades later, the book concludes with an elderly Marie-Laure, back in Paris, reclaiming the miniature house and key. In contrast, the show stops after Werner’s capture by U.S. forces, and Marie-Laure tosses the diamond into the ocean.
The show omits certain resonant plot lines, including Werner’s friendship with Frederick, a fellow National Institute student who sustains severe brain damage for refusing to partake in the torture and humiliation of an enemy prisoner. 🎬📚
Netflix vs. Book Showdown
While Netflix’s adaptation of “All the Light We Cannot See” offers a visually compelling narrative with talented performances, purists may find solace in the exquisite details and nuanced character development that Anthony Doerr masterfully crafted in the novel – pick yours up here. The show admirably captures the essence of the story but leaves out some poignant plotlines, altering the fate of key characters. Readers who cherish the intricate layers of Doerr’s prose and the novel’s profound reflections on war and humanity might still find the book to be an unparalleled literary experience. 📖🎬
