Burmese Days

Does anyone think Burmese Days would make a good film? I've read the book about 10 times over the last 30 years and always thought it would. I think it is one of Orwell's most under-rated books. I would suggest it still has relevance for today. Any thoughts out there?

Ta.

Yes, I agree. But as always in these things, it depends on how it is made, and by whom.

I thought the Keep the Aspidistra Flying movie was ok but nothing special.

I personally think Mike Leigh might make a good fist of George Orwell's early novels. I enjoyed his Gilbert & Sullivan movie - not his normal type of movie, but it had good characterisation and a sense of time and place.

It would make an excellent film for Leigh or Loach or whomever. Ang Lee? General readers are familiar with 1984 or Animal Farm and tend to think, "that's Orwell". But the earlier novels are very under-rated and are due to be rediscovered. After the umpteenth Austen adaptation, maybe it's time to turn to another good source of "Englishness".

Nice to see there are some Burmese Day-ites out there! What's the best way of getting some interest in this from the film people? Write to the BBC?

By the way, my most memorable bit of writing in the book is after Flory has shot himelf and the doctor examines him and realises he is dead, "An expression of agony came into his face, and he seized the dead man by the shoulders and shook him as though mere violence could bring him to life."

I definitely agree with Zenomax, it all comes down to who makes it. I'd rather it not get made than get made poorly by the wrong person.

Have you guys heard about the project going on over at The Orwell Prize? They're going to post daily entries from Orwell's diaries. It's going to take four years to get through, but it should be an interesting way to digest them.

More info here.