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Swept from the Sea: The Shooting Script
From the director of Used People and Antonia and Jane starring Vincent Perez, Rachel Weisz, Ian McKellen, and Kathy Bates--the script plus a fascinating essay on the process of adapting a classic by novelist Willocks; the original 1901 Conrad story he adapted; an exclusive interview with director Kidron conducted by Australian director Fred Schepisi; stills; cast and crew credits. 26 b/w photos. The Newmarket Shooting Script(tm) Series features an attractive 7 x 9 1/4 inch format that includes a facsimile of the film's shooting script, as chosen by the writer and/or director, exclusive notes on the film's production and history, stills, and credits.
160 pages, Paperback
Published June 21, 1999
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
May 25, 2025
For anyone who loves the beauty and grace of the fine film, Swept From the Sea, starring Rachel Weiz and Vincent Perez, this makes a wonderful companion. It includes the screenplay, an interview with director Beeban Kidron, stills from the film and, of course, the original short story by Joseph Conrad.
I have never been a huge Conrad fan and reading this short story after seeing the beautiful film it inspired was a reminder why. Though it obviously is literature, it is plagued by Conrad’s choice of Kennedy to relate the tale. Whereas F. Scott Fitzgerald could find grace and beauty in seemingly sketchy, or even trivial, people and situations, Conrad is either unwilling or unable to do so. It reads as though a beautiful romantic tragedy had been written without any love or sentiment. For that reason, Conrad’s “Amy Foster” leaves you cold.
Tom Willocks, who enjoys Conrad more than I do, ran into this problem while writing the screenplay. Then he realized everything was askew in Conrad’s original story. Kennedy’s perspective was obviously tainted, and recognizing this, Wiillocks was he able to turn the story inside out, uncovering the vestiges of love and romance Conrad had omitted.
It is because of Willocks's wonderful screenplay and Beeban Kidron’s handling of it that this is one of those rare instances where the film is better than its original source. The film has the grace and beauty of fine literature because screenwriter Tom Willocks gave it such. Reading the screenplay will make you appreciate just what a difficult task such an adaptation was and how screenwriting is an art form all its own.
Fred Schepisi, the director of the underrated film Plenty, was chosen to interview Beeban Kidron about the making of Swept From the Sea. The twenty-one questions Schepisi asks and Kidron’s responses are invaluable to anyone who loves this exquisitely beautiful work of art. There are little gems and insights into the making of the film fans will enjoy immensely.
The book includes some nice stills from the film to look at, and as a bonus, the entire credits for the film are listed as well. If you haven’t seen this spare and lovely film yet you are missing out. If you have seen it you’ll definitely want to own this as an addition to the film.
“It struck me that Amy Foster was one of the greatest love stories ever told, except that the love story itself had been left out.” — Tom Willocks (screenwriter)
I have never been a huge Conrad fan and reading this short story after seeing the beautiful film it inspired was a reminder why. Though it obviously is literature, it is plagued by Conrad’s choice of Kennedy to relate the tale. Whereas F. Scott Fitzgerald could find grace and beauty in seemingly sketchy, or even trivial, people and situations, Conrad is either unwilling or unable to do so. It reads as though a beautiful romantic tragedy had been written without any love or sentiment. For that reason, Conrad’s “Amy Foster” leaves you cold.
Tom Willocks, who enjoys Conrad more than I do, ran into this problem while writing the screenplay. Then he realized everything was askew in Conrad’s original story. Kennedy’s perspective was obviously tainted, and recognizing this, Wiillocks was he able to turn the story inside out, uncovering the vestiges of love and romance Conrad had omitted.
It is because of Willocks's wonderful screenplay and Beeban Kidron’s handling of it that this is one of those rare instances where the film is better than its original source. The film has the grace and beauty of fine literature because screenwriter Tom Willocks gave it such. Reading the screenplay will make you appreciate just what a difficult task such an adaptation was and how screenwriting is an art form all its own.
Fred Schepisi, the director of the underrated film Plenty, was chosen to interview Beeban Kidron about the making of Swept From the Sea. The twenty-one questions Schepisi asks and Kidron’s responses are invaluable to anyone who loves this exquisitely beautiful work of art. There are little gems and insights into the making of the film fans will enjoy immensely.
The book includes some nice stills from the film to look at, and as a bonus, the entire credits for the film are listed as well. If you haven’t seen this spare and lovely film yet you are missing out. If you have seen it you’ll definitely want to own this as an addition to the film.
“It struck me that Amy Foster was one of the greatest love stories ever told, except that the love story itself had been left out.” — Tom Willocks (screenwriter)
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