Journey to the end of the night: A cinematic adaptation of a literary masterpiece
A new vision for a classic novel
The literary world is abuzz with the news that “Journey to the End of the Night”, a seminal work by the controversial French author Louis-Ferdinand Céline, is being adapted for the big screen. This ambitious project is helmed by Joann Sfar, known for “The Rabbi’s Cat” and “Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life”, alongside Thomas Bidegain, the screenwriter behind “A Prophet” and “Emilia Perez”.
The creative minds behind the adaptation
Esteemed producers Aton Soumache, recognized for “The Little Prince”, and Alain Attal, known for “Beating Hearts”, are spearheading this adaptation through their respective production companies, Magical Society and Tresor Films. This collaboration promises to bring a fresh and dynamic perspective to Céline’s darkly comic and semi-autobiographical novel.
The novel’s controversial legacy
Published in 1932, “Journey to the End of the Night” was Céline’s debut novel. Despite his polarizing views and antisemitic pamphlets that aligned with Nazi ideology during World War II, Céline remains a towering figure in French literature. His real name, Louis Ferdinand Auguste Destouches, is often overshadowed by his pen name and the controversies that followed him until his death in 1961. The novel, translated into 37 languages and selling over 10 million copies worldwide, continues to be a staple in high school curriculums.
A dark and existential journey
The novel follows the disillusioned anti-hero Ferdinand Bardamu through his tumultuous adventures, spanning from World War I to French West Africa and New York, where he works on an assembly line at Ford Motor Company before returning to France to become a doctor in a poor Paris suburb. Sfar and Bidegain’s adaptation aims to delve deep into Bardamu’s inner journey and his existential quest amidst war and social despair.
Personal reflections from the creators
Joann Sfar shares a personal connection to the novel, stating, “I read ‘Journey to the End of the Night’ when I was 15, and it’s one of those masterpieces that shaped me. I read it without knowing anything about Louis-Ferdinand Céline, and you can imagine how that complicated my life later on. I can’t unlearn this book.”
Sfar continues, “This novel is a key to understanding French society, including its darkest and most revolting aspects. I’ve been circling an audiovisual adaptation of this novel for 15 years, and it was the recent meeting with Thomas Bidegain that sparked everything.”
Bidegain echoes this sentiment, describing the novel as “a relevant key to understanding our times.” He adds, “The list is long of those who have grappled with Bardamu’s adventures, his desperate humor, his clinical insight, the novel’s impossible picaresque structure, the unwieldy figure of its author, and the Himalaya of Céline’s language.”
A shared vision for the adaptation
The collaboration between Sfar and Bidegain is marked by a shared passion for cinema and a deep respect for Céline’s work. Bidegain remarks, “It took a giant like Joann for this project to come to life. Our joyful meeting swept away any doubts — our shared desire for cinema, to create images and meaning, our irreverent fascination with this great work… And here we are, hard at work, full of enthusiasm.”
The producers’ perspective
Producers Soumache and Attal, both of whom are Jewish, express the weight of responsibility and the creative excitement that comes with adapting Céline’s novel. In a joint statement, they said, “The project to adapt ‘Journey to the End of the Night’ felt like an immense responsibility, but also an unprecedented creative adventure.”
They continue, ”Alongside Joann Sfar and Thomas Bidegain, we have the ambition to translate this literary masterpiece onto the screen with all its power, depth, and complexity. We have gathered an exceptional artistic team to capture the tormented and masterful essence of Céline’s work.”
A cinematic reinterpretation
The producers hint at taking some creative liberties with the novel to deliver a “cinematic reinterpretation of Bardamu’s existential and tragic journey,” showcasing Sfar and Bidegain’s “unique and singular vision that will resonate with a wide audience.”
For those eager to dive deeper into the world of “Journey to the End of the Night”, you can watch the trailer here.
This adaptation promises to be a profound exploration of one of literature’s most complex and controversial works, brought to life by a team of passionate and visionary filmmakers.