Comparison: Short Story to Film Adaptation

The film adaptation of "A Clean, Well-Lighted Place" has pros and cons. Some of the things that the director/actors did very well, was the music. Each piece of music, even though different, had the same pleasant, yet eerie tone. It set the mood very well which was a nice enhancement to the piece. The actors also did something very well, and they stayed true to the script. They didn't go overboard with their characters, which made it realistic and true. A specific example of this, would be how the old man was drinking and supposedly drunk. He is a "clean drunk", and because of this, barely stumbles or spills. Some people may say he didn't look drunk at all, but I think he portrayed the "clean drunk" act very well. There was also a scene I liked much better in the film than I did in the actual literature. When the older waiter is reciting the Lord's Prayer and Hail Mary substituting words with "nothing" in his mind, I like how the words overlap and all you can really hear is "nothing". That scene was much better and it captured a greater feel to it than the short story did.

Even though there are many different pros of all different aspects, there are also things they could have improved on. First of all, a major theme within the story are the placements of light and dark and the shadows that are cast. The old man was supposed to sit in the shadow of a tree, however there was no shadow on him in the setting at all in the film. I felt even though the film did play slightly with light/dark, they could've emphasized its affect on the old man. The only other con that really irked me, was the time setting. "A Clean, Well-Lighted Place" was written in 1933, and the film (made in current day) showed modern society...even though there was a World War ll guard walking outside with a naive girl.... I wished they could've somehow removed modern-day aspects and be sincere to the time period. 

Besides the cons, I feel the film was very good. It even helped me understand the story a little better! I'm glad that they made it and I had the chance to watch it. If I could tell them "Good job!", I would!

Response to "A Clean, Well-Lighted Place"

Young Waiter: This waiter shows the stage in life of youth and ignorance. Even though he is trying not to be insincere to the old man (he states he's only in a hurry), he is, rushing the man on his way and kicking him out, even though he is only a "clean" drunk. The young waiter is not thinking of his destined future to be like the old man someday (lonely and sad). He even states that "[he doesn't] want to be that old." Because "an old man is a nasty thing". 

Older Waiter: This waiter is in the stage of a middle-aged man. He is beginning to see his future of loneliness and sadness. Because he is not as ignorant as the other waiter is to his determined future, he has some more consideration for others who like to stay up at night and drink away (because drinking eases the pain of knowledge acquired from the years of memories). 

The Café: The clean, well-lighted place, is a setting where you can feel safe and warm. If you go there, you are participating in society, feeling of a somewhat importance. The two waiters even discuss how drinking alone at home is not the same as at a bar. I believe that if you are alone at home, you are isolated, thus feeling more lonely. However, if you are alone at a bar/cafe, you are included, thus feeling less lonely. The cafe is society, where people of all different stages in life can mix, it is a place where the old can drink, the middle-aged men can think, and the ignorant young men can waste a few years by just being there. It can mean something to different people. But obviously the clean, well-lighted places are the best.