“Visual Spectacle Dominates Over Narrative Depth in ‘100 Nights of Hero'”
**Film Review: 100 Nights of Hero**
The film adaptation of Isabel Greenberg’s graphic novel, *100 Nights of Hero*, directed by Julia Jackman, brings to screen a feminist narrative originally filled with interwoven tales and complex storytelling techniques. The film stays true to the book’s thematic focus, highlighting gender-based oppression in a fictional world where women’s literacy is suppressed, yet the simplification of the narrative presents a significant departure from the original work.
In the source material, the storyline is set in “Early Earth,” a universe crafted by Greenberg in previous works. The plot revolves around Cherry, portrayed by Maika Monroe, and her secret lover Hero, played by Emma Corrin, who together navigate a society where women are severely oppressed. The driving force of the narrative is a bet made by Cherry’s husband, which requires Cherry to resist seduction attempts by his friend Manfred, played by Nicholas Galitzine, for 100 nights.
In the graphic novel, Greenberg utilizes an array of folklore and myth, enmeshed with Hero’s personal history, creating a rich tapestry of stories that subvert traditional narratives of power and control. The film, however, narrows this complexity to a single story within the greater film narrative, focusing on three sisters whose literacy becomes a scandal. This shift arguably diminishes the powerful commentary on storytelling’s ability to subvert oppression, a pivotal aspect of Greenberg’s original work.
Despite the narrative simplification, Jackman compensates with a visually arresting aesthetic. Paying homage to movie-making styles akin to directors like Wes Anderson and Tarsem Singh, Jackman crafts a visual world, utilizing enhanced performances and striking color palettes to reflect the film’s thematic elements. The film’s cinematography serves as a critical narrative device, emphasizing character dynamics and thematic contrasts through color — Cherry in pure white to symbolize her untainted state, Manfred in foreboding black, and the heavenly greens and blues adorning the sisters.
The film also seems attuned to the digital age, adapting visually for social media dissemination. Key moments, like a stark depiction of Manfred’s violent conquest, are staged to capture attention in brief, shareable formats, blurring the lines between traditional cinema and new-age visual storytelling methods.
Ultimately, while the film *100 Nights of Hero* diverges from its source material in narrative structure, it remains a visually stunning reflection of Greenberg’s world and themes. Viewers may find themselves inspired to delve into the graphic novel for a deeper appreciation of the stories and themes that have been partially encapsulated in its cinematic counterpart. *100 Nights of Hero* is now available for streaming.