French director François Ozon has just released a new film adaptation of Albert Camus's classic novel L'Étranger, which is set to reopen old colonial wounds in France. More than 80 years after its publication, the novel remains one of the most widely read and fiercely contested books in the world.
Camus, who was born in French Algeria to French parents, wrote about the absurdity of human existence in a society marked by racism and oppression. The novel follows the story of Meursault, a young man who is condemned to death by decapitation after killing an Arab on a beach.
Ozon's adaptation has been met with mixed reviews, but critics say it successfully conveys the absurdity of Camus's work without shying away from the complexities of colonialism. The film's black-and-white cinematography and atmospheric soundtrack have also received praise for their thought-provoking portrayal of Meursault's world.
However, some have criticized Ozon's decision to give greater presence to Djemila, the sister of the murdered Arab, who was not present in the original novel. Catherine Camus, Albert Camus's daughter, has expressed her disappointment with this move, saying that it felt like "pulling on a thread that Camus had woven without developing".
The film has been seen as a significant challenge for Ozon, given its complex themes and the fact that many readers have already visualized the story in their own minds. Despite this, he believes that the novel's exploration of colonialism and its impact on individuals and society is just as relevant today.
Overall, L'Étranger will be released next year in the UK as The Stranger, and will likely continue to spark debate about Camus's work and its relevance to contemporary society.
Camus, who was born in French Algeria to French parents, wrote about the absurdity of human existence in a society marked by racism and oppression. The novel follows the story of Meursault, a young man who is condemned to death by decapitation after killing an Arab on a beach.
Ozon's adaptation has been met with mixed reviews, but critics say it successfully conveys the absurdity of Camus's work without shying away from the complexities of colonialism. The film's black-and-white cinematography and atmospheric soundtrack have also received praise for their thought-provoking portrayal of Meursault's world.
However, some have criticized Ozon's decision to give greater presence to Djemila, the sister of the murdered Arab, who was not present in the original novel. Catherine Camus, Albert Camus's daughter, has expressed her disappointment with this move, saying that it felt like "pulling on a thread that Camus had woven without developing".
The film has been seen as a significant challenge for Ozon, given its complex themes and the fact that many readers have already visualized the story in their own minds. Despite this, he believes that the novel's exploration of colonialism and its impact on individuals and society is just as relevant today.
Overall, L'Étranger will be released next year in the UK as The Stranger, and will likely continue to spark debate about Camus's work and its relevance to contemporary society.
this adaptation sounds so complex and thought-provoking! Interesting how they decided to give more screen time to Djemila, it's gonna be interesting to see how the movie handles that aspect...
. the fact that he gave more screen time to Djemila is a bold move, and I think it's cool how he's tryna make her character more than just a minor fig. catherine camus might be salty about it, but at the end of the day, its ozon's vision, not hers 
. and honestly, i think its refreshing to see someone tackle colonialism and its impact on ppl in a way that's both thought-provoking and visually stunning 
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. it's like, you can't just leave out a whole character and expect people to still relate to the story, right? at the same time, i get where catherine camus is coming from - it's definitely a risk, but ozon seems confident that he made the right choice 
... and honestly, the cinematography and soundtrack are giving me all the feels 
. can't wait to see how this film holds up for audiences next year 
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. It's always good to have nuanced discussions about these kinds of issues, even if they're hard to talk about.
? Only time (and probably some heated online debates) will tell! 
But at the same time, I get why Catherine Camus would be upset – her dad wrote this iconic book and it’s not like he said anything bad about his own family... I think it's great that Ozon took a risk by adding Djemila to the story, even if some people don’t agree with it. It shows he was willing to challenge some of the original themes, which is what makes his adaptation so interesting 
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Ozon thinks he's doing the world a favor by rehashing Camus's classic novel again, but really, he's just poking holes in it with this Djemila business... I mean, who needs some random character from nowhere to make the story more "interesting"? 
. It's like altering a puzzle piece - it might look right at first, but then you see all the other pieces don't quite fit anymore. And yeah, I get what Ozon was trying to do with adding more depth to Djemila's character, but does it really change the essence of the story? 
the fact that they're bringing attention to colonialism again after all these years is seriously needed we gotta keep having these conversations about systemic oppression and racism 
the only thing that bothers me is Catherine Camus's dad was super particular with his work so i'm kinda curious how they handled that aspect of the novel 
. And with the changes to Djemila's character, I can see why Catherine Camus would be disappointed 
. It's not gonna be easy, but if anyone can make it work, he can 
. Can't wait to see how it all plays out in the UK next year 
The film's black-and-white cinematography adds to the somber mood, making it even more thought-provoking 
But let's be real, some changes are necessary to keep the story fresh and engaging 
It'll be interesting to see how audiences react to L'Étranger/ The Stranger when it hits theaters 
... colonialism, oppression, racism... it's all still so messed up.
. He's not shying away from the hard stuff, and that's what makes this film so thought-provoking 
... even if Catherine Camus doesn't like it 
... and now, with Ozon's adaptation, we're gonna see it in black-and-white again 
. I'm both excited and apprehensive about how this film will play out, but one thing's for sure: it's gonna be a wild ride 
!
think ozon did a good job bringing camus's classic novel to life, but also acknowledged that some changes might ruffle a few feathers 
It's like, Ozon is trying to tap into the same vibes as Camus, but in a way that feels fresh and relevant. I'm excited to see how people respond to it, esp considering it's been such a long time since we last saw L'Étranger on screen 
but at the same time, ozon said he did it to represent more of the victims of colonialism 
but what if ppl just r not ready 2 accept change in a story they love? 