The primary idea behind August Wilson’s Fences script is that people’s environment shapes them, and despite the noble intentions of their parents, they might end up messing up their children’s lives. Wilson portrays this concept of identity and family through a film and play. There are significant differences between the two pieces regarding characterization, setting, film angles or camera movements, and lighting.
The first difference is that the movie has more sets compared to the consistent house-front used in the play. Characters occasionally enter the house in the movie compared to the play, which is acted at the same place throughout. However, the dialogue and spots are the same with the said characters in both creations. Secondly, regarding characterization, the movie keeps some characters off-screen, such as Alberta, who is mentioned but does not show up on set. Additionally, the movie has twisted some parts to make them more dramatic, like the scene where Rose is not shown initially as Troy talks to his son. Subsequently, this makes the audience believe that Rose is absent and later reveals that she was there.
Another similarity is that the selection of the movie cast was appropriate because they suited their character representations in the play. The characters fit their descriptions and behaviors and explained in the play. For instance, Viola Davis accurately played the role of Rose Maxson as a strong woman who holds things together despite all challenges. Additionally, the movie’s lighting was perfect as it suited the era in which the creation was based – during the 1950s. It accurately reflected the visual mood, atmosphere and era highlighted in the play. Finally, the film includes skies time-lapse and a montage to show different periods, making it more interesting to the audience. In contrast, the stage production consists of a playbill to signify the exact time passage between acts and scenes.
To conclude, the Fences movie accurately brought out the main themes of the play – family, identity, and racism. The off-screen technique gives the film a sense of life outside Troy’s house. The film maintains a sense of theatrical acts and scenes, making it dependent on the source creation without significant development. Conclusively, the movie was more enjoyable because of the actors chosen to represent the characters. One could follow through with the play and relate to the emotion they portrayed.