Put ‘Because of Winn-Dixie’ masterpiece aside, author Kate DiCamillo has a long list of literary back catalog filled with books worthy of film adaptations, that’s why in this article, we will analyze some of her best works whose ideas and original plots have been adopted in films and television shows.
The Tiger Rising
Independent filmmaker and director, Ray Giarratana, takes the credit for bringing Kate DiCamillo’s award-winning book ‘The Tiger Rising’ from the book to the television screen. The film is based on a 2001 novel of the same name, and follows the story of Rob and Sistine, two friends whose quest to be rid of grief leads them to release a ferocious tiger from its cage.
It is an interesting story written by Kate DiCamillo and inspired by the story her mother told her about a tiger escaping from a local Floridian reserve. DiCamillo had previously created Rob her character but had hit quite a snag on him. However, the loose tiger inspiration from her mother seemed like the final piece she was waiting to complete the Rob story, and it was.
The film ‘The Rising Tiger’ features A-list actors such as Queen Latifah, who stars as Willie May, a local hotel housekeeper who Rob entrusts with his secret about uncaring the tiger. Christian Convery and Madalen Mills feature Rob Horton and Sistine Bailey respectively.
The film’s reviews were decent but less than the more impressive reviews the original book got – the LA Times particularly pointing out that the film version didn’t quite capture the charisma of the spellbinding large tiger feature on the book’s cover art.
Because of Winn-Dixie
With Joan Singleton as a screenwriter, Wayne Wang, and Trevor Albert as directors, Kate DiCamillo’s work ‘Because of Winn-Dixie’ hit the big screen in 2005, five years after the original book release date. Just as in the book, the screen adaptation talks about India Opal Buloni, a ten years old girl who moved to Naomi Florida with the preacher and her father.
Opal’s mother, referred to by the name mama, had left her and her father when she was only three, and this reality has not affected Opal positive going forward -as she longs to reunite with her estranged mother, a hope which sees her become often nostalgic and unable to make new friends because she cannot let go.
Opal eventually finds the strength and ability to do so after crossing paths with a god-sent dog at the Win-Dixie grocery store. This big, dirty, malnourished dog will go on to help Opal get along with people, forget and move on from her past, and enjoy and appreciate her life as it is.
The film was aired by 20th Century Fox and starred several top actors – including debutant AnnaSophia Robb who starred as India Opal Buloni. Reviews were mixed but generally optimistic, and it garnered, at the box office, a total of 33 million dollars as against its 33 million dollars initial budget.
Aside from ‘The Tiger Rising’ and ‘Because of Winn-Dixie’, Kate DiCamillo’s other books such as the award-winning ‘Flora and Ulysses’ and ‘The Tale of Despereaux’ have also been adapted into films. ‘The Magician’s Elephant’, another of her top book, is billed for onscreen release by 2023.
FAQs
How many of Kate DiCamillo’s books have been adapted into film?
Currently, Kate DiCamillo has four of her books adapted into films and they include- ‘The Tiger Rising’, ‘Because of Winn-Dixie’, ‘Flora and Ulysses’ and ‘The Tale of Despereaux’.
Are all Kate DiCamillo’s book-to-film adaptations as interesting as the original books themselves?
Most of Kate DiCamillo’s book-to-film adaptations are very interesting and perhaps nearly as the original books themselves, however, do have been accused of not being really as captivating as the modeled book.
Who directed Kate DiCamillo’s ‘Because of Winn-Dixie’?
Trevor Albert and Wayne Wang directed Kate DiCamillo’s ‘Because of Winn-Dixie’, while Joan Singleton wrote the script.
