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The Bridge of San Luis Rey (2004): Film vs Book
Film · 2004 · Directed by Mary McGuckian · Starring Robert De Niro, Kathy Bates, Gabriel Byrne
About the film
A priest tries to find a reason why five people died when a bridge broke.
How close is it to the book?
Loosely based on the bookThe film changes the structure and tone of the novel, and the result is more earthbound.
Read or watch first?
The novel is brief and elegant, and best on the page.
What the book gives you
The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thornton Wilder
A beautiful, compact book that invites you to think about love, fate and why people matter.
Who will like it: Readers who want a short, elegant parable about lives that cross.