- More depth in the story and events through an extra role, flashbacks or different storylines.
- Making the story less longwinded by bringing in more physical interaction.
- The general storyline with Santiago’s thoughts, norms, values and struggles and how he overcomes them to be a little more exaggerated for extra psychological depth in the story and make the message clearer.
After having watched the film the first thing that struck me was that because of the lack of computer techniques and animations (there was no computer in the days it was produced), and the obvious changes between studio scenes and the ones made out at sea made the whole film resemble a comedy rather than a serious drama one. This doesn’t matter, of course, because the story in general is very serious; it’s a struggle between life and death.
The first real difference between the book and the film become clear at the very beginning of the movie, when a writer asks his wife “how shall use that old man in my story?” and the woman answers: “You have to decide; you are the author!” It is from then on very obvious that Hemingway and his wife play a part in the film themselves, and that the old man is their image because they have to overcome some problems as well. After the man sold his car and starts worrying more and more about the old man when he hasn’t returned for three days. This causes friction between them until Manolin tells them about Santiago’s problems over the last time. When the old man then eventually returns, all the friction is gone and they live happily ever after.
The second important difference is that in the film the old man has been given a daughter, who is already married, has two children and lives in the nearby city. She visits Santiago on the eve before he sails out to catch the marlin, and tries to persuade him to come and join her and her family in the city where life’s better, cleaner etc. But Santiago, stubborn as he is, wants to stay and have one more try and so his daughter leaves, obviously taking offence.
Two days later, when Santiago hasn’t returned for the night, she visits the village again and is brought into contact with Hemmingway and his wife through Manolin. They all feel like acting except for Manolin who has all faith in the old man. And because they don’t know how to act they wait, worry and think. Those scenes are shown every now and then, mostly after the old man’s dreams about the lions on the beach. In this way the film is made more varied because of there are now two parallel storylines and other things you are focussed on except for the old man: his family and godfather.
Besides that new characters are added to the film there are no important differences, so let’s have a look at the similarities between the book and the film.
The plot and storyline of the book and film are similar; the additional characters don’t change that because their lifes are shown in a different storyline. Santiago’s story and troubles are still the same, except for that I thought them to be clearer in the film which made it a more stirring story because you now feel more pity for the man. For example, in the book Santiago calls for Manolin’s aid directly after having had physical “problems”, like fighting against the sharks that take flesh from the marlin tied onto the boat. Whereas in the film Satiago cries “Oh, I wish the boy was here” at the moments it looks like he’s not going to make it. This makes you have more pity with him and realise that although he is an old man and his body is no longer like it used to be, his heart is still great and together with his monologues, prayers to God and desire to be as brave as DiMaggio he eventually defeats the Marlin. So I think that in the film it’s more obvious that he is able to make it by using mental strength and perseverance.
This automatically brings us to the message of the story. In the book, after having killed the fish, tied it up onto the side of the boat, and beaten off the first shark attack the old man says: “ but man is not made for defeat. A man can be destroyed but not defeated”. With this he means to say that a man can be destroyed physically (he just lost his harpoon, has no food, little sleep, cramps in his hand, etc.), but not defeated because a man keeps his common sense and mental skills whereas he might be physically disabled, which he is. So he owes his survival, victory over the marlin and sharks and other physical problems to his mental condition (praying, hope, etc.)
In the book this is just said once by Santiago himself whereas in the book Hemingway and his wife, his daughter and Manolin repeat it. This emphasises the message and together with the better display of his emotions, calls for help and physical problems it makes the film at this point more successful because you now really start thinking about what has happened and what effects this might have on you.
In retrospect to what I expected from the film and the points of improvement, I think I can conclude justly that the film is better than the book, both in telling an (amusing) story, showing you the aspects of life, and conveying a simple but complex question because of the different storylines, more physical (inter)action, better display of the old man’s thoughts and norms & values and repetition of its message.
This was also the author’s story; he was trying once more for a successful book, at which he succeeded, probably because of the message that is also useful for the reader.
Problems:
bad luck (no fish)
lonelyness
age
no food, little sleep (only raw fish)
physical problems (cramp in hand + back)
He overcomes them by:
hope
determination
skill
talking to himself, praying to God for help (superstition + religion)
This was the author’s story; he was trying once more for a successful book, at which he succeeded. The old man’s message is also for the reader.
Assignment:
What are the differences + similarities between the book and the film? Which is more successful, in your opinion? Also in conveying the simple message “man can be destroyed but not defeated”.
