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A Little Life with James Norton

49 replies

Frodofeeling · 29/09/2023 09:22

I went to see the cinema screening of the stage play.

I knew it would be hard hitting and explored some challenging themes and it was rated 18, but OMG I've never seen such a graphic film, let alone stage performance. I can't imagine being in the theatre.

Repeated depictions of child sex abuse, self harm, rape, suicide with nothing left to the imagination.

Has anyone else seen it?

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LivLongAndProsper · 29/09/2023 09:35

I'd read the book, loved it, so yes I knew what to expect. They did a fantastic job of adaptation. It was a very intense experience!

beeswain · 29/09/2023 09:46

Not seen it but read the book - 'enjoyed' is the wrong word but it rates as one of the most compelling and beautifully written novels I have ever read. A friend saw it and said that one of the main difference is that the stories abut the other men are not developed in the play - something that gives some relief from Jude's misery in the novel.

Tinytigertail · 29/09/2023 09:46

I saw it at the cinema last night, but had previously read the book. It was a brilliant adaptation, but definitely not an easy watch. I found it slightly less relentless than the book though. How on earth did James Norton manage to do that night after night?

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Frodofeeling · 29/09/2023 09:47

Tinytigertail · 29/09/2023 09:46

I saw it at the cinema last night, but had previously read the book. It was a brilliant adaptation, but definitely not an easy watch. I found it slightly less relentless than the book though. How on earth did James Norton manage to do that night after night?

I thought that for the whole cast

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GoddessOnTheHighway · 29/09/2023 09:48

I saw it at the theatre. It was one of the most unpleasant things I have ever watched. James Norton acted his socks off but I felt very strongly that it was pretty gratuitous.

For context I hadn't read the book. If I had I wouldn't have gone.

KakiFruit · 29/09/2023 09:50

beeswain · 29/09/2023 09:46

Not seen it but read the book - 'enjoyed' is the wrong word but it rates as one of the most compelling and beautifully written novels I have ever read. A friend saw it and said that one of the main difference is that the stories abut the other men are not developed in the play - something that gives some relief from Jude's misery in the novel.

It's been a couple of years but I don't remember any of the others being well developed in the book? They felt very much side characters.

Madamwahselle · 29/09/2023 09:51

I read the book as I love a bit of 'misery porn' (I don't like that description)

no way would I watch it as a play though even with my favourite actor James!

TGGreen · 29/09/2023 09:53

Did you not think to read the play or heed the warnings? DD aged 17 saw it at The Savoy in July but she'd read it several times first. I find it odd she could see it live but not in the cinema when she would clearly be more prepared than most.

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Frodofeeling · 29/09/2023 09:56

TGGreen · 29/09/2023 09:53

Did you not think to read the play or heed the warnings? DD aged 17 saw it at The Savoy in July but she'd read it several times first. I find it odd she could see it live but not in the cinema when she would clearly be more prepared than most.

Yes, I knew it would be hard hitting, but this was something else. I think most films on similar subjects would leave more to the imagination than this did and was surprised to see such a graphic depiction on stage.

I'm not complaining, just discussing.

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TheMurderousGoose · 29/09/2023 09:56

I thought the book was a load of old hooey.

Love JN, but wasn't tempted to watch this.

beeswain · 29/09/2023 09:56

@KakiFruit probably worded this wrongly - agree the other men are side characters' but we do have a bit more about JB and Malcom in the book - as well as some of the details about their lives in Manhattan. I believe most of this is cut from the play

TinaYouFatLard · 29/09/2023 09:57

I hated the book so much. It was bad enough reading descriptions of such utter horror. The fact that someone thought this was a good piece to turn into visual entertainment makes me feel grubby to say the least.

AnnaMagnani · 29/09/2023 09:59

This is reminding me why I stopped going to the theatre. I have quite a hard hitting job and I remember going and thinking 'I get all of this at work, why am I doing this in my leisure time?'

Well done to all the cast as it sounds very impressive but not for me.

TastesLikeStrawberriesOnASummerEvening · 29/09/2023 10:04

I saw it in the theatre and was shell-shocked, I was too stunned to even cry, though most people were sobbing.
Lots didn't come back after the interval either.
I wouldn't say I enjoyed it, but I'm so glad I went.

OrangesOnlyFruit · 29/09/2023 10:08

I think I must be dead inside.

I didn't really find the book that horrific, tragic, moving etc. It was a beautifully-written novel, easily one of my absolute favourites of all time. But I didn't really get the deep emotional connection that others seem to have done. I cried at "People in the Trees" though.

I went to see the stage production with a friend because she bullied me into it. I normally don't watch plays or films based on books I've read because they're always poor adaptations. I found the play really over-focused on Jude whereas the book, I think, did a good job of centering the other men at various points and then zooming in on Jude it quite a natural way. The other guys were just bit parts in the play which I thought was a shame.
Similar to the book, to be honest, I wasn't moved by the play. I found it quite tiresomely gratuitous, as though the writers/directors were thinking "Oooh, look at how edgy and arty we are by depicting this stuff on stage". The play was also long as fuck.

I found the depictions of grooming and the sex scenes in "My Dark Vanessa" much more powerful and uncomfortable than the play or book of "A Little Life"

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Frodofeeling · 29/09/2023 10:13

OrangesOnlyFruit · 29/09/2023 10:08

I think I must be dead inside.

I didn't really find the book that horrific, tragic, moving etc. It was a beautifully-written novel, easily one of my absolute favourites of all time. But I didn't really get the deep emotional connection that others seem to have done. I cried at "People in the Trees" though.

I went to see the stage production with a friend because she bullied me into it. I normally don't watch plays or films based on books I've read because they're always poor adaptations. I found the play really over-focused on Jude whereas the book, I think, did a good job of centering the other men at various points and then zooming in on Jude it quite a natural way. The other guys were just bit parts in the play which I thought was a shame.
Similar to the book, to be honest, I wasn't moved by the play. I found it quite tiresomely gratuitous, as though the writers/directors were thinking "Oooh, look at how edgy and arty we are by depicting this stuff on stage". The play was also long as fuck.

I found the depictions of grooming and the sex scenes in "My Dark Vanessa" much more powerful and uncomfortable than the play or book of "A Little Life"

Yes it was too long.

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TotalOverhaul · 29/09/2023 10:27

TastesLikeStrawberriesOnASummerEvening · 29/09/2023 10:04

I saw it in the theatre and was shell-shocked, I was too stunned to even cry, though most people were sobbing.
Lots didn't come back after the interval either.
I wouldn't say I enjoyed it, but I'm so glad I went.

I'm interested in why you are glad you went. Would you mind saying why?

A friend (who has a very gruelling job) got tickets and invited me along but I was feeling a bit low that week anyway and said I couldn't face it. She sold the tickets. I just couldn't imagine wanting to sit through that as 'entertainment'. It sounded so relentlessly grim.

TastesLikeStrawberriesOnASummerEvening · 29/09/2023 10:35

It was relentlessly grim, but the performances were amazing, it's not for the faint hearted, but it was really well done, that's why I'm glad I went.

Sarvanga38 · 29/09/2023 10:40

I went last night too. Fabulous performances, but I was very glad I was a bit removed' in the cinema, wouldn't have wanted to be in the theatre - and certainly not in those very close seats. (Also glad I was in a comfy leather recliner rather than a theatre seat for that length of time.)

'Enjoyed it' certainly wouldn't be the phrase. I hadn't read the book either - honestly, I booked it on a bit of a whim, as it was James Norton, and while I'm glad I went and found it excellent in some ways, I probably wouldn't have done if I'd been aware quite how grim it was.

No clue how the actors manage to remove themselves from doing that every day.

PinkArt · 29/09/2023 10:45

I got a last min cheap ticket for the front row of the stalls. It was incredibly confronting and the main benefit of being so close was that I couldn't see the stage floor and therefore the extent of the blood.
It's the only show I've ever been to where the audience was audibly crying. Not just scattered people needing a tissue but the sound of breathy sobbing.

Anjelika · 29/09/2023 11:25

I went to the cinema last night to see it - like a PP mainly because James Norton was in it but also because I've seen the book recommended on here so many times but have never got round to reading it. I had no idea what it was going to be about (perhaps as well?) and thought it was mind blowing really. It was very grim in parts and I couldn't get over just how much misery one human had to endure. I guess because the focus was on Jude and not the others (unlike the book I'm guessing from the comments here) it made it seem even more so.

Hats off to James Norton - he was AMAZING and I have no idea how he can perform like that night after night. It was just so intense. It was lovely to see his proper smile at the end when they all took a bow!

I am glad I went but I shan't be reading the book any day soon.

SecondClassReturnToDottinghamPlease · 29/09/2023 12:19

This hadn't been on my radar at all, I've not come across the book before now and the first I heard of it was when a friend posted she was going to see it and very excited. Lots of positive feedback. So I looked it up when I saw it was going to be on at the cinema as I love James Norton and was horrified to read what it was about. I'm so glad I did as I was about to buy tickets based on JN alone!

LivLongAndProsper · 29/09/2023 13:30

KakiFruit · 29/09/2023 09:50

It's been a couple of years but I don't remember any of the others being well developed in the book? They felt very much side characters.

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Interesting. My view of the book was tat it was also about friendship and thought that this was what the stage show really lacked, the focus on the relationships between the men.

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Frodofeeling · 29/09/2023 13:52

I was confused about the doctor. How was the same man treating him for MH, self harming and suicide attempt as for the leg pain and the amputation? And why were they so close? I obviously missed something.

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heldinadream · 29/09/2023 14:29

Booked to go with DH on Sunday. Haven't read the book but we're both aware of what it's about and how extreme (if that's the right word) it is.
Have just received a content warning PDF from the cinema, which is a totally unprecedented thing - not read it yet.
I'll report back. Good to read a range of responses here.