Whether on screen or on paper, women can certainly do it all. The general audience sometimes overlooks the fact that the majority of famous book to film adaptations were actually based on novels written by women authors — whether it’d be during the 18th century when women as writers were a rarity due to gender inequality (like Jane Austen) or two centuries later when women wanted to see more heroines, so they created their own (such as Suzanne Collins).
We wouldn’t have classic tales such as The Hundred and One Dalmatians if it wasn’t for Dodie Smith or the harrowing romantic story of Jane Eyre if not for the excellency of Charlotte Brontë. Let’s take a look at the best movie adaptations of books written by women.
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10 The Color Purple
The Color Purple was a big turning point for Steven Spielberg as a director, so much as it was a breakthrough for Whoopi Goldberg as the main lead. What many of you may not be aware of is the fact that the movie is based on a novel of the same name written by Alice Walker in 1982. The plot tells the heartbreaking story of two Black sisters fighting for their independence and freedom from men, only to get eventually tormented by white women. Although the story has received a fair share of criticism for its depiction of violence, Walker still won a Pulitzer Prize for it. It certainly reaffirms your religious beliefs and make you believe in the immense power of love.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
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9 Lust, Caution
Lust, Caution’s story is a masterpiece. Author Eileen Chang set the story during the Second Sino-Japanese War, when Hong Kong and Shanghai were occupied by the Japanese Imperial Army. University students use a young woman Wong Chia Chi to seduce an important official Mr.Yee, so they can assassinate him. The story offers a wide range of aesthetics and story points: from the fashion, to the visible gap between the rich and the poor, to the atrocities of the impending invasion.
8 Addicted
Zoe Reynard (Sharon Leal) risks her stable life with a husband and her three kids because of her nymphomaniac tendencies — that’s the story of Addicted. The addiction gets so affecting that she decides to seek a therapist. Even though the movie didn’t enjoy much critical success, the book by erotica writer Zane was a best-selling novel. It might not be your cup of tea, but it gives a unique insight on what it’s like to live with a different kind of addiction.
7 Interview With A Vampire
You may have not been aware that this arguably queer gothic romance was indeed written by a woman named Anne Rice back in 1976. What’s more, this was her debut novel. The story follows two vampires Lestat (Tom Cruise) and Louis (Brad Pitt) and their lives together as they try to come to terms with who they are. It’s narrated in an interview-like style with Louis. If you’re fascinated by tragedy and angst, Interview With A Vampire is definitely for you.
6 The Hunger Games
Everyone remembers the craze that The Hunger Games started around the globe — and deservedly so. Suzanne Collins wrote an intriguing anti-capitalist story, but what did marketers do? Similarly to Squid Game, they overlooked the heavy, political message and turned it into fun visuals to make profit on. All that aside, the plot of The Hunger Games tells a story of televised competition, which takes two kids from twelve districts to fight for their lives in an arena in order to allegedly preserve peace in the country. It’s arguably one of the few franchises that did a great job of properly adapting the books into movies.
5 Sins of the Mother
This is the only adaptation from our list that has a different name from its book. Carleen Brice wrote a book called Orange Mint and Honey back in 2008 about a girl named Shay who left her mother at a young age because of her alcoholic tendencies. But after years of living apart, she decides to come back home to her mum, only to find her completely sober and unrecognizably happy. It’s certainly a must-watch for those who like to get sentimental.
4 Pride & Prejudice
Universal Pictures / Focus Features
We can probably collectively agree that Jane Austen was ahead of her time. Pride & Prejudice follows the life of Elizabeth Bennet as she battles her moral judgments when she has to marry to support her poor family. There have been countless adaptations of the beloved English novel throughout the years, but the one we’re addressing here is Joe Wright’s 2005 feature directorial debut starring Keira Knightley as Elizabeth and Matthew Macfadyen as Mr.Darcy. It’s truly amazing how both of these characters exhibit both pride and prejudice throughout the story, depicting just how much they’ve grown as people.
3 Frankenstein
Mary Shelley does certainly not get the recognition she deserves for creating such a prominent part of our culture. There’s probably no need to explain the story of Frankenstein, for it’s truly one of the most acknowledged tale of our times. If you’re one of those people who complain that some adaptations are not the same as the book, you have to realize that it’s not supposed to be. Media doesn’t perfectly translate over mediums. What’s important is that Shelley was the one who created the trope of a deranged scientist and its grotesque yet deeply emotional creation, who he ends up abandoning.
2 First They Killed My Father
Not only did Loung Ung write the book, but she and Angelina Jolie also wrote the screenplay for the movie adaptation together. It’s most likely because of its intimate biographical nature that Ung ended up participating in both. The story is set in 1975 in Cambodia, during the Khmer Rouge regime. War is never easy, and in contrast with the other war movies, this story is told from the perspective of the 7-year-old Ung, who had to train as a soldier in order to survive. Directed by Jolie, First They Killed My Father is easily accessible on Netflix.
1 Little Women
Last but not least, we have to mention one of the biggest movies of 2019: Little Women. Although there are other adaptations of Louise May Alcott’s 1868 coming-of-age novel, Greta Gerwig’s version, with its golden cast, has received the highest critical acclaim, garnering six Academy Awards nominations. The story follows the lives of four very different sisters as they try finding themselves. The main focus is on Jo March (Saoirse Ronan), who after watching everyone prioritize romantic love realizes just how lonely she is.
