The Perks of Being a Wallflower: Book vs. Movie
Stephen Chbosky writes and directs The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012), based on his 1999 novel. A withdrawn freshman finds friendship with two older students while struggling with memories of loss and trauma.
From Books Adapted
What changed from the book
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Charlie's family loses a substantial part of the story
The book gives more space to Charlie's extended family and his sister's life. The movie leaves out her pregnancy and abortion, although Chbosky filmed that material. He said placing it alongside the conflicts and farewells in Charlie's friendships made the movie too emotionally crowded.
He also removed a filmed flashback involving Charlie's friend Michael. The flashbacks that remained concentrated on Aunt Helen. Chbosky said introducing a second person through that same device confused the memories that mattered to the final revelation.
How it was adapted
Charlie's friends have to exist beyond his descriptions
Chbosky adapted his own novel and directed the movie. It follows the book's story through its conclusion, while changing how Charlie's experience is told.
The novel reaches the reader through Charlie's letters. The movie uses his narration, but also has to show people whom the book presents through his descriptions. Chbosky used Patrick as an example: Charlie can simply tell a reader that Patrick is funny; the movie needs Patrick's behavior to convey it.
Chbosky also used editing to connect Charlie's present experiences with intrusive memories. He described that ability to place images against one another as a different way of expressing Charlie's state of mind.
About the book and the movie
- Author
- Stephen Chbosky
- Year
- 1999
- Pages
- 224Buy book
- Audiobook length
- 6 hr 23 minGet audiobook
- Narrator
- Noah Galvin
In letters to someone he has never met, Charlie describes his first year of high school after the death of a close friend. Friendship with older students Sam and Patrick gives him access to parties, music, and relationships that he usually observes from the sidelines. As his attachments deepen, his habit of putting other people’s needs first makes it harder to recognize what he wants or explain the memories troubling him.
- Director
- Stephen Chbosky
- Writer
- Stephen Chbosky
- Year
- 2012
- Runtime
- 1 hr 43 minWatch on Amazon
- Cast
- Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller, Mae Whitman
- Genre
- coming-of-age, Drama, LGBTQ-related, Romance, teen
- IMDb
- View on IMDb
Charlie begins high school expecting to remain unnoticed until seniors Patrick and Sam welcome him into their circle. Late-night drives, a Rocky Horror stage show, and his growing love for Sam give him reasons to take part rather than watch. But trouble within the group and the approach of graduation threaten the support he has found, while distressing memories begin interrupting his new life.
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