An Accurate Portrayal- Comparitive Essay

The poverty stricken childhood of Frank McCourt in Limerick, Ireland is told in his memoir, Angela’s Ashes. His memoir is filled with pages of intense and dark situations during his vehement experiences. In many film adaptations of novels, the mood of each significant event can be altered due to special effects, the screen play, or just the unconvincing roles by the actors. These events must be brought to life on the screen in such a way that does not hinder the themes and overall mood of the story. Otherwise, the film goes astray and is no longer based on the book, but merely a variation of the book. Alan Parker’s 1999 adaptation of Angela’s Ashes, however, accurately portrays the true intentions of Frank McCourt’s memoir.

No movie adaptation can fully show all the events of the novel it was based on. They sum up the plot and show the critical events to fit the movie in the approximate two and a half hour time period. Similar to many film adaptations, Angela’s Ashes also cuts out events that were mentioned in the book but these events were not in the least bit vital to the impression of the novel. The movie skipped right through to the birth and the death of Margaret, Frank’s only sister. It did not include the helpful Italian grocers who gave the McCourts left over stock from their store. The movie also did not include certain details that established their desperate state to the viewers. For instance, the part where Frank’s siblings had to use newspapers for toilet paper and how they would complain about their black behinds was not included. However, the movie displayed other details that showed the intensity of the poverty the boys endured. The movie instead showed the jam jars they used as cups and the lavatory they had to share with the entire neighbourhood. The very last event in the memoir was Frank arriving in America and meeting a woman. However, in the movie the very last event was just Frank on the boat sailing to America and seeing the Statue of Liberty in a new light. These small differences are understandable considering the time limitations that film makers must follow.

The actors and actresses did a phenomenal job of portraying the three main characters. Emily Watson, who played Angela McCourt, demonstrated her anguish yet her sense of constant helplessness since she had no choice but to deal with her miserable marriage (divorce was illegal in Ireland at the time). Robert Carlyle, who played Malachy McCourt, brilliantly acted his role of a caring father and a patriotic man who was helpless to his alcohol addiction. Michael Legge, who had the role of the eldest version of Frank McCourt, played his role of a good boy who feels regretful when he goes astray outstandingly.

The action of choosing only the essential events to show in the adaptation did not hinder the overall impression and themes of Angela’s Ashes. Viewers still can see the McCourt’s daily torments and horrific living state and the transformation Frank goes through. The brilliant performances of the actors and the cinematography that showed the gloomy rain of the Limerick streets also help make the 1999 film adaptation of Angela’s Ashes an accurate portrayal of the memoir.