Translating Literary Enigma to Screen: A Review of François Ozon’s “The Stranger”

François Ozon's film adaptation of "The Stranger" masterfully translates the fascinating mystique of Albert Camus’ 1942 classic into a visual medium. Ozon presents a cinematic experience that echoes the detached yet enticing tone of the novel, emphasized through tantalizing gaps of silence between intricately arranged scenes.

Benjamin Voisin embodies the ravishing enigma of Meursault, a man who kills a person just days after his mother’s funeral-an event at which he does not shed a tear. Voisin’s performance stands out, demonstrating an unnerving consistency with his captivating yet disconcerting gaze. His portrayal of Meursault is captivating in its indifference and self-containment, maintaining a consistent aura despite the varied angles and settings he is placed in throughout the film.

Ozon's film, like Camus' book, is structurally divided into two parts. The first focuses on Meursault's experience of his mother’s funeral and the lethargic, sun-drenched days following. Across these days marked by sex, surf, and sunshine, the pace remains unhurried, mirroring Meursault's own disjointed sense of time.

FilmIn an intriguing twist, Ozon bolsters the roles of the female characters in the narrative. The Arab's mistress, Djemila (Hajar Bouzaouit), and Marie (Rebecca Marder) are given richer roles that offer a commendable depth beyond the novel’s first-person narration. This, along with the personifying of the Arab victim who was only ever referred to by his ethnicity in the book, marks a significant divergence from the source material.

Ozon’s film's triumph lies in its ability to adapt the literary work without making it literal. It respects the novel's inherent mystery without attempting to demystify it. The film also brilliantly contemporizes the narrative with its portrayal of pre-war Algeria's specific political environment. Yet, it conserves the timeless charm of the narrative- Meursault still resolutely resists analysis or interpretation, presenting a chilling view into the abyss and the benign indifference of the world.