• Atif Sadikkhan Mandori

Since the dawn of cinema, filmmakers have sought to present great pieces of written text onto the big screen. It is the most popular form of the amalgamation of literature and visual arts, though not always a successful endeavor. This study aims to analyze the adaptation of the Academy Award-nominated film ‘Arrival (2016)’ directed by Denis Villeneuve from the short story ‘Story of Your Life (1998)’ by Ted Chiang to understand how literary text can be turned into a cinematic text and the difficulties faced by the filmmakers in their attempt. This study draws from the concepts of adaptation presented by the screenwriting guru and story consultant Robert McKee in his book ‘Story: Substance, Structure, Style, and the Principles of Screenwriting’ to examine the process of adaptation. Both the short story and the film tell us about the arrival of an advanced extraterrestrial species while, in the subtext, really making it about ourselves, i.e., humanity. The changes made by the director and the screenwriter make the story fit the mold of cinema. This is in accordance with Robert McKee’s concept of adaptation: the aesthetics of the screen often demand reinvention of the story. This reinvention and reinterpretation results in the expansion of the conflict and the themes and makes the film more relevant.

Adaptation, Visual Storytelling, Literature, Cinema, Arrival, Story of Your Life

"The Question of Interpretation: Understanding Adaptation With Special Reference to 'Story of Your Life' and 'Arrival.'", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.11, Issue 3, page no.d112-d116, March-2024, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2403314.pdf

"The Question of Interpretation: Understanding Adaptation With Special Reference to 'Story of Your Life' and 'Arrival.'", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.11, Issue 3, page no. ppd112-d116, March-2024, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2403314.pdf