MANILA, Philippines - “James Franco has pulled off a devilishly difficult literary adaptation with this faithful yet cinematically vibrant version of William Faulkner’s novel,†applauds The Hollywood Reporter, while Time Magazine praises, “The effort is honorable, a mixture of mannerism and earned emotion.â€
These are just a couple of rave reviews among the many that Millenium Films’ poignant drama, As I Lay Dying has received from U.S. Critics, following its successful premiere last May at the Cannes Film Festival under the Un Certain Regard section.
Directed by James Franco (photo) from a screenplay by Franco and Matt Rager, As I Lay Dying is adapted from the 1930 classic American novel by William Faulkner. The story chronicles the Bundren family as they traverse the Mississippi countryside to bring the body of their deceased mother Addie to her hometown for burial.
Addie’s husband Anse and their children, Cash, Darl, Jewel, Dewey Dell, and the youngest one Vardaman, leave the farm on a carriage with her coffin — each affected by Addie’s death in a profound and different way.
Their road trip to Jefferson, some forty miles away, is disrupted by every antagonistic force of nature or man: flooded rivers, injury and accident, a raging barn fire, and not least of all — each individual character’s personal turmoil and inner commotion which at times threaten the fabric of the family more than any outside force.
As I Lay Dying will be shown exclusively at Ayala Malls Cinemas nationwide starting Nov. 27.