From Page to Screen: Cinematic Adaptation as a Cultural, Narrative, and Interpretative Rewriting of Literary Texts

Abstract

Cinematic adaptation represents a dynamic intermedial dialogue between literature and film, wherein written narratives are reimagined through visual, auditory, and performative languages. This study examines cinematic adaptation not as a secondary or derivative practice but as a creative and interpretative act shaped by cultural context, technological possibilities, and audience expectations. By analyzing the transformation of literary elements such as narrative structure, characterization, themes, and symbolism into cinematic form, the article foregrounds adaptation as a process of translation rather than replication. It also addresses the tensions between fidelity to the source text and the filmmaker’s creative autonomy. Drawing upon adaptation theory and selected literary cinematic case studies, the paper highlights how films reinterpret literary works to suit contemporary socio-political realities and visual storytelling conventions. The study ultimately argues that cinematic adaptation enriches literary discourse by extending texts into new cultural spaces and interpretive frameworks.