Explore the cinematic translation of your favorite books, from page to screen, as we recommend two movies that align with their style and core content!
George Orwell, 1984 – Children of Men and Snowpiecer
For lovers of the 1984 novel, the movie Children of Men (2006) offers a dystopian vision of world chaos, exploring societal control and an upsetting perspective of the future, aligning itself with the novel’s core themes. Snowpiercer (2013) also questions the class struggles of a forcefully confined society and resonates with matters of oppressive regimes and resistance.
Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice – Jane Eyre and Atonement
If one is into period dramas, Jane Eyre (2011) and Atonement (2007) are nice suggestions. The intertwining themes of love and morality are a common aspect between all the pieces. Much like in Jane Austen’s novels, a vocal point of the films is their portrayal of a happy ending and its significance.
Sally Rooney, Normal People – The Worst Person in The World and Before Sunrise
The contemporary bestseller Normal People delves into the complexity of relationships, with recurrent themes as intimacy and growth. The Worst Person in the World (2021) and Before Sunrise (1995) are strongly suited to those who enjoyed the book.
Gale Honeyman, Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine – Silver Linings Playbook and Lost in Translation
For enthusiasts of Honeyman’s romance, Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine, which delves into mental health and unconventional connections, the movie Silver Linings Playbook (2012), is a striking movie choice for a cozy night in. Lost in Translation (2003) is another alternative which beautifully captures instances of loneliness and unexpectedly powerful connections, complementing the book’s themes of personal growth and the impact of human relationships.
Jeff Vandermeer, Annihilation – Solaris and BladeRunner
The mind-bending world of sci-fi classic, Solaris (1972) will tastefully suit the favoured characteristics of the 2014 novel Annihilation, which could also be associated with themes of self-destruction and the way one’s past shapes the present. A dive into the visually stunning landscapes of Blade Runner (1982) echoes the themes of identity and existential questioning inherent to the novel.
Hanya Yanagihara, A Little Life – Aftersun and Blue Valentine
A Little Life is considered by many one of the saddest contemporary pieces of literature. If in a mood for a good cry, Aftersun (2022) and Blue Valentine (2010) are a way to go. Aftersun dives into the memory lane of a father-daughter vacation, while he was struggling mentally. Blue Valentine depicts the impact of the past on relationships.
Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray – Portrait of a Lady on Fire and The Prestige
Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019) resembles The Picture of Dorian Gray through the great emphasis both pieces put into art and the thematic of the artist and the muse. On the other hand, The Prestige (2006) scrutinizes topics such as obsession and jealousy, also very much present in the novel.
Joël Dicker, The Baltimore Boys – Dead Poets Society and Stand by Me
The Dead Poets Society (1989) resonates with themes of self-discovery and the impact of literature, which are ever-present within the novel, with both culminating in a tragic aftermath. The movie Stand by Me (1986) is also an astounding watch for keen readers of the Swiss writer’s novels, as it focuses on the power of childhood bonds and characters’ journeys to accomplish self-actualization.
In the labyrinth of human desires and obsessions, Jun’ichirō Tanizaki’s “Quicksand” serves as a mesmerizing exploration of the human psyche. As we venture into the intricate tapestry of this enigmatic novel, we find ourselves immersed in a world where reality blurs and the boundaries between passion and destruction, love and obsession, become dangerously thin. In this book review, we will delve into the layers of this work, exploring its themes, narrative style, and its enduring significance in the world of literature.
Context and author
Jun’ichirō Tanizaki
Jun’ichirō Tanizaki was a Japanese author considered to be one of the most prominent figures in modern Japanese literature, being indicated for a Nobel prize in 1964. Some of his works delve into the themes of destructive obsessions and sexuality exploration, while others portray subtly the dynamics of family life in the context of the rapid changes in the Japanese society at the time.
Tanizaki played a pivotal role in Japanese literature during the Shinkankaku-ha movement of the early 20th century. This literary wave, defined by its emphasis on individualism, psychological exploration and the incorporation of innovative literary techniques, brought forth a transformation in storytelling. Alongside authors like Riichi Yokomitsu and Yasunari Kawabata, Tanizaki was committed to exploring the thoughts and emotions of his characters in a more direct and unfiltered manner. This approach allowed them to delve into the realms of desire, sexuality, and the intricate nuances of human relationships. This book is a prime example of the movement, as the characterizations and exploration of human desires align closely with its principles.
Plot
The book immediately draws you in, as it starts with an intimate conversation/confession between the main character and a friend, centered around an affair she had. The story is narrated by Sonoko Kakiuchi, a young woman trapped in a stifling marriage, who attends art classes at a women’s school. Rumors start spreading at the school of Sonoko’s alleged involvement in a romantic entanglement with another student, the beautiful Mitsuko. Despite barely knowing her, Sonoko feels inexplicably drawn toward Mitsuko, prompting her to initiate a friendship with the intriguing young woman.
The sexual tension between the two starts building up until they eventually start an affair, making the rumors a “self-fulfilling prophecy”. As she starts to get increasingly involved into a complex web of lies, deceit and manipulation, both women are pitted against the social norms of marriage in a deadly game that will engulf them both, jointly with Mitsuko’s fiancé and Sonoko’s husband.
The Japanese title, Manji, refers to the four-pronged Buddhist swastika, a symbol of the four lovers, in this case representing Sonoko, Mitsuko, Watanuki and Kotaro; the four main characters, three people that found themselves entangled as pawns in Mitsuko’s love game.
Themes and Impact
The characters within the narrative are multifaceted, with no clear demarcation between right and wrong. The whole book explores a murky sense of morality as it navigates through toxic relationships and dynamics. The narrative thoroughly delves into the concept of the anti-hero, compelling you to root for characters engaged in morally questionable acts.
The story has a lot of unexpected plot twists that constantly challenge and reshape your perception of the characters. It is often that the seemingly naive character undergoes a transformation, becoming the antagonist.
Tanizaki’s portrayal of women flourishing within a naturalistic social environment, where their lives are intricately intertwined with their inner selves, is both subtle and provoking. These women, restricted to domestic spheres and women-only schools, found themselves compelled into arranged marriages, navigating their inner thoughts and emotions alone. Frequently, they formed incredibly intimate, sometimes romantic, connections with their close female friends. The author depicts this hypersensitive inner worldand relationships throughout the book, exploring its profound depths layered with a storm of emotions.
The author’s innovative writing style and thematic explorations influenced generations of Japanese writers. Overall, Tanizaki’s contributions toJapanese literaturelie in his ability to capture the complexities of human experience, his exploration of cultural shifts, and his innovative narrative techniques, all of which continue to inspire and influence the literary landscape.
Style and Opinion
The whole book has an aura of intimacy almost leaving you with the sensation of overhearing a conversation meant for a therapist’s ears, something you weren’t meant to witness, yet engaging from the first paragraph.
This deeply personal narrative, shared in the first person, often conveys a nuanced portrayal of events, leaving room for interpretation. The reader has the feeling of an unreliable narrator, that can be totally blindsided by the unfolding events or their own feelings.
The storyline is intricate and rich with unexpected turns, adding to the engagement without veering into implausibility or losing the thread of the intricate love affair triangle, later evolving into a quadrangle. All of this unfolds against the backdrop of a traditional Japanese society on the cusp of modernity, enhancing the complexity of the tale.
It begs for the reader to ponder about what it is to feel powerless and ridiculous for love; about the limits of the selfishness one can indulge in the vein hope of the retribution of such powerful affection. How the pretense to love and the need to cling onto it can lead us into a path of self-justification and rationalization of actions that are not moral.
“(…) And even of if it was wrong to be secretly in love with another man, what was so bad about being in love with a woman, someone of my own sex? (…)”
Feeling powerless because of the uncertainty of someone’s feelings and intentions; an illicit affair fueled by love and irrationality that is all consuming is a timeless and universal subject as it is appealing to a passion ingrained in the core of human nature.
All these themes are taken to the extreme in this book, as the main character acknowledges her own impotence and inability to back off a relationship that makes her feel like a “fool”.
“So I found myself sinking deeper and deeper into the quicksand, and although I said to myself I had to escape, by this time, I was helpless. I knew I was being used by Mitsuko and that all the while she was calling me her dear sister she was actually making a fool of me.”
Conclusion
This book masterfully explores themes of jealousy, betrayal, and obsession within the context of illicit and unpredictable love. The characters’ intense desires and struggles against societal constraints and against each other create a deeply relatable and immersive experience for readers. The story’s authenticity and unexpected plot twists kept me thoroughly engaged. The author skillfully balances intricate character development with a suspenseful narrative, creating a compelling and thought-provoking read. I highly recommend this book for readers seeking a thrilling and fast-paced narrative that seamlessly combines suspense, romance, and psychological depth.
Have you ever looked at something, and imagined what it would be like if it were… different? Say, what would the education system look like without the written word, or arithmetic without the concept of zero? Or what would the financial system be without interest? Many centuries ago, in Europe and all the Christian world, collecting interest was forbidden by the Church on the grounds of immorality, being universally recognized as a sin – the sin of Usury.
Nowadays, the official stance of most western nations with respect to interest is significantly different – not only is it not condemned, but is actually regarded as a vital part of our economies. And it definitely is. It is impossible to imagine how our current financial system would ever work without this tool. Interest is a crucial part of loan taking, house buying, and savings. Politicians talk about it, economists worry about it, investors use it to generate returns. The concept of interest is inseparable from the concept of money itself. In most of the world, at least.
Like the Catholic Church once did, some still consider interest to be immoral, or simply impossible to reconcile with their religious beliefs. Such is the case of the Islamic Faith.
THE ISLAMIC VIEW
Before we look at how this financial system is different from the main one, it is worth spending some time understanding its foundations.
A member of the Islamic community is supposed to comply with certain rules and guidelines, living their lives according to the teachings of the Faith in order to lead a moral life. To this code of conduct, we call Sharia (or Shari’ah) Law. Sharia is a complex subject. It requires interpretation of the will of God, something that has divided humankind for millennia. We are not likely to solve it in 1400 words. It is not the purpose of this article to explore the religious and legal complexities of Muslim-majority countries. Sharia law exists, and millions of people in the world follow it. Our focus is on how Sharia, and by extension the individuals that try to guide their actions by it, think of financial transactions.
The Institute of Islamic Banking and Insurance states the objectives of Islamic Financial Transactions (i.e. Sharia compliant financial transactions) as follows:
To be true to the Sharia principles of equity and justice;
Should be free from unjust enrichment;
Must be based on true consent of all parties;
Must be an integral part of a real trade or economic activity such as a sale, lease, manufacture or partnership.
The first three points can be considered more or less subjective – what constitutes equity, injustice or true consent are open for debate. Interesting as that debate may be, it falls out of our scope today. Let us then look at the fourth point.
Sale, lease, manufacture and partnerships are no strangers in the traditional financial system. The key is the one missing – can you spot it? That’s right – debt! Debt-based instruments, so common in traditional financing, don’t have the same centrality in its Sharia compliant counterpart. Why is that? Well, we’ve stated the reasoning before: the Islamic Financial System absolutely prohibits paying/receiving “any predetermined, guaranteed rate of return”, that is, interest.
But why does the Islam forbid someone to be compensated for departing from their capital for a period? Doesn’t it recognize the Time Value of Money (the notion that having money right now is more valuable than the promise of the having money in the future)? As a matter of fact, it does! The difference is in understanding what constitutes capital. Ask any non-Islamic banker, investor or economist, and they will almost surely tell you that money is capital – a production factor, something that can be used to create more wealth. Islamic thinking draws a line: money is only seen as potential capital. It is only considered actual capital when it is employed in an actual productive activity together with other resources. Simply put, money sitting still is not productive, so you are not entitled to any compensation for lending it to someone who will actually put it to use.
PRINCIPLES AND INSTRUMENTS
So, what can actually be done inside this system? Well, any activity that complies with some basic principles:
As previously discussed, interest (riba) is forbidden. It is regarded as an “unjustifiable increase of capital whether in loans or sales”. This is the central principle ruling mutual dealings. Borrowers and lenders should equally share the profits and risks – profits are a symbol of a successful enterprise, while interest is a cost independent of success, only on the side of the borrower. A supplier of funds is not a creditor, but an investor. Since money has no purpose unless tied to a real asset, speculation and gambling (maysir) are forbidden. Uncertainty or asymmetrical information (when one of the intervenients possesses information that the other one has no access to) are also prohibited in any transaction – contracts are sacred, and agents have a duty to disclose all relevant information beforehand. Hoarding is also not permitted, as well as trade in forbidden commodities (pork, alcohol, dealings with casinos, etc.).
Many instruments that are present in the traditional financial system are also used by the Islamic Financial System. The most basic ones, which can then be combined to create more complex products, are cost-plus financing, profit-sharing, leasing, partnership and forward sale.
APPLICATIONS
As you can see, Islamic Financing is no more than a selection of the financial instruments and products that comply with certain religious and, especially, moral principles. If you think about it, it is not so different from how a food restriction works – if you and your friends go to dinner, the vegan friend will order something with no meat, the one with a seafood allergy will probably not get the shrimp, and some may choose to get water instead of wine or other alcoholic drink. And, of course, you are perfectly free to order a salad if you’re not vegan, or to ask for no peanuts in your dessert even if you have no allergy. And you are equally free to partake in a Sharia-compliant financial transaction, whether you are a Muslim or not!
People can invest in an Islamic Financial Product regardless of their faith
Islamic finance has been growing, and not only inside the Muslim Community. Its principles appeal to many, and it does have some advantages over the traditional system: as interest is forbidden, predatory loans can’t happen at all; income and wealth are more equally distributed, as every intervenient receives a part of the profits, regardless of how much capital they had at the beginning of the enterprise; speculation is forbidden, meaning the system is not so exposed to market bubbles (goodbye, 2008-like financial crisis!); and it is significantly more transparent and accessible. Many argue that it can help lift many out of poverty, especially if combined with ideas like Microfinancing. These characteristics indicate that Islamic Finance may be better equipped for sustainable development, a point that may prove to be of great importance in the years to come.
Of course, it has some significant disadvantages too: it does not provide funds for all businesses (religious prohibitions prevent it from dealing with pork, alcohol and gambling firms) and, for all its efficiency in allocating resources to businesses with a greater chance of success and encouraging money to be fueled into real and productive activities, it can be argued that it does not maximizes investment profits (as interest is not charged).
There is another detail that is worth pointing out: Islamic Finance comes with a moral compass (or at least a baseline). Whether this is a positive thing or not will probably depend on the degree to which you agree with the moral principles it is rooted in, but it is, undoubtedly, a point of difference between this system and the traditional one.
The islamic Financial System serves millions of people worldwide
It is easy for some to look at the presented characteristics and to regard this system as limiting. We cannot argue it may not be limiting, but it is so in order to provide an option that answers the needs of millions of people, who do not wish to compromise their faith in exchange for a piece of wealth. Different cultures have different approaches, and we live in a wonderfully differentiated world. Imagine how boring it would be otherwise.
Sources: Institute of Islamic Banking and Insurance, Corporate Finance Institute, Investopedia, World Bank, Blossom Finance, Wikipedia
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