Amanda Lamy

I do not recommend this mini series, and I am usually a generous and open-minded viewer. Notwithstanding the narrative constraints of film which a novel can easily bypass, I have to say this “adaptation” was offensive in its level of adulteration. Anthony Doerr went to great lengths to make the Werner character a compromised soul, someone who in fact fails many tests before he ultimately rises to a moral challenge. His breakthrough is cathartic. The redemption of his heart is deeply moving. In the mini series, the writer doesn’t dare to present us with someone who isn’t completely likeable from start to finish. As a result, we have no epiphany. Character distortion aside, the deletion of supporting characters is major, as is the deletion of plot points. But what’s most disturbing is the actual insertion of characters and plot points into the story. I understand that a mini series needs cliffhangers from one episode to the next, but if the novel is an undisputed page-turner offering up plenty of suspense to work with, the taxidermy of said novel is just a profane act of capitalism.