The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. Poster of the 2007 movie and cover of the 1997 book
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The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Jean-Dominique Bauby, 1997
movie vs book
Julian Schnabel, Laura Obiols, 2007

The first third of the film is told from the main character’s, Jean-Dominique Bauby, or Jean-Do as his friends call him, first person perspective. Bauby cannot speak, but he develops a system of communication with his speech and language therapist by blinking his left eye as she reads a list of letters to laboriously spell out his messages, letter by letter.


City of War: The Story of John Rabe. Poster of the 2009 movie and cover of the 1998 book, The Good Man of Nanking: The Diaries of John Rabe
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The Good Man of Nanking: The Diaries of John Rabe
John Rabe, 1998
movie vs book
Florian Gallenberger, 2009

The film narrates the account of a German businessman who, during the Nanking Massacre in China, valiantly orchestrated the rescue of over 200,000 Chinese individuals. His courage shone through as he skillfully negotiated the establishment of a safety zone, shielding innocent civilians from the onslaught of the Japanese Army.


Elle. Poster of the 2016 movie and cover of the 2012 book
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Elle
Philippe Djian, 2012
movie vs book
Paul Verhoeven, 2016

Michèle Leblanc is raped in her home by an assailant in a ski mask, then cleans up the mess and resumes her life. She has a contentious relationship with her mother, Irène, whom she resents for her narcissism and involvements with younger men. Haunted by her father’s actions, Michèle is wary of law enforcement and does not report her rape to police.