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“Leave the World Behind” has surged in popularity on Netflix, garnering attention for its captivating storyline, top-notch cast, and timely exploration of pressing issues like conspiracies and internet reliance. Despite a divided reception among critics and audiences, many are curious about the film’s origins and how closely it aligns with its source material.
Yes, “Leave the World Behind” is an adaptation of Rumaan Alam’s 2020 novel of the same name. Alam, an acclaimed author known for books like “That Kind of Mother” and “Rich and Pretty,” crafted this novel before the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite its eerie resonance with pandemic themes, it wasn’t a prediction but rather a well-timed narrative from Alam’s creative mind.
Alam’s book received critical acclaim and was a finalist for the National Book Award, praised for its handling of class, race, and their impact in a post-apocalyptic setting.
Director Sam Esmail, in an interview on The Big Picture podcast, expressed his dislike for direct one-to-one adaptations. He emphasized the necessity of recontextualizing the source material to suit the cinematic medium, diving into characters’ interior lives and visual language differently. Consequently, the film deviates from the book in certain respects.
The most noticeable change is the relationship between characters G.H. (played by Mahershala Ali) and Ruth (portrayed by Myha’la Herrold). In the book, they’re depicted as husband and wife, whereas in the movie, they’re a father-daughter duo. However, this alteration doesn’t significantly affect the plot dynamics.
The film diverges notably in its ending. While the book concludes with a cliffhanger, following young Rose’s attempt to reunite with her family, the movie takes a surprising turn. In the film, Rose discovers an old DVD of “Friends,” a show she had been watching before losing internet access. She decides to watch the finale, fulfilling a longing she had throughout the film.
Esmail collaborated with Alam and even sought feedback from Barack Obama, whose production company financed the film. While Obama provided detailed notes, Alam maintained a hands-off approach, expressing enjoyment and satisfaction, especially with the comedic ending.
This change in the conclusion adds a different emotional resonance to the narrative, providing a more light-hearted and fulfilling note to the film’s conclusion.