The famous French writer Marcel Proust died a hundred years ago, on November 18, 1922, of poorly treated bronchitis. A century later, his novels continue to captivate and come in several forms: comics, films or even manga.
For thirty years, Stéphane Heuet has been adapting Proust’s work into comics. And yet, it was not won in advance: at the age of twenty, he enlisted in the navy, broke his leg and tried to read Proust to pass the time. After fifteen pages, he drops: too indigestible.
The cover of volume 1 of “In Search of Lost Time” in comic strip adapted by Stéphane Heuet. [Editions Delcourt]Fifteen years later, he plunged back into it and it was love at first sight. Won over by the comic side of “In Search of Lost Time”, he decided to transpose this work into a comic strip by writing down the images that formed in his head while reading: “For me, Proust is a painter missed who perfectly described the paintings he would have made”, says Stéphane Heuet.
The adventure begins with the Delcourt editions and the success is there: 300,000 copies sold and translations in twenty countries. To date, the series has eight volumes. The creation of a volume requires three and a half years of work, two of which are solely devoted to the text.
manga and cinema
“In Search of Lost Time” was also adapted in 2011 into a volume drawn in the form of a manga (400 pages all the same), the authors of which specify that it “is not intended to replace the work of Proust. The goal is on the contrary to make the reader want to immerse themselves in the original novel”.
The seventh art is not left out. And there too, the exercise borders on the impossible. How to translate into a film a colossal work with an introspective language? The first to dare to tackle it is the German Volker Schlöndorff. In 1984, he directed “Un amour de Swann”, which focuses on the passion of a wealthy dandy and darling of high society for Odette, a former luxury prostitute. The reception is mixed. For critics, this adaptation of Proust to the big screen is disappointing.
A daydream
Fifteen years later, in 1999, Raoul Ruiz released “Time Regained”. Audacious, faithful to Proust, full of poetry and images, the film is hailed this time. The Chilean filmmaker films in “waking dream” mode, the roses come out of the wallpaper and the trees move. The cast is also up to par: Pascal Greggory, John Malkovich and Vincent Perez embody this story of men who insist on the theme of homosexuality. On the feminine side, Emmanuelle Béart embodies Gilberte, the love of youth, and Catherine Deneuve, Odette, an aristocratic cocotte.
Finally, the French director Nina Companeez adapted Proust in 2011 for television. “In Search of Lost Time” becomes a three and a half hour TV movie. The Proustians are not disappointed: the rhythm and the actors are good, the exterior scenes magical and Nina Companeez manages to capture Proust’s humor by showing the grotesque side of the socialites and the agitation of the characters in stories of amorous jealousy.
Radio subject: Sarah Clement
Adaptation web: mh
Note that the program “Vertigo” devotes this Friday a special program to Marcel Proust from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. on RTS – La Première.