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Decisions Propelled “Veronika Decides to Die”
By Sriram Das, producer (Das Films) of Veronika Decides to Die
(August 2008) I just wrapped production on the first-ever film adaptation of a work by international bestselling author Paulo Coelho (The Alchemist). Three years ago, when I first read Coelho's novel Veronika Decides to Die, I was blown away by the way in which it captured the sense of boredom and alienation that seems so prevalent in my generation. I eventually met Coelho at the Cannes Film Festival in 2007 and made a deal for the film rights to Veronika.
In the two years since, I worked with writers Roberta Hanley and Larry Gross (Another 48 Hours, Prozac Nation) and director Emily Young (Kiss of Life) to develop a script that would translate Veronika's experience to the screen in a way that felt immediate and relatable for a modern audience. We decided to set the story in New York, rather than Slovenia where the novel takes place - a choice that I feel has paid off exquisitely.
The story centers on Veronika Deklava, a young woman who appears to have it all: a good job, good looks and a promising future. Yet she feels so constrained by everyone else's expectations that she fails to realize - until it may be too late - that she actually has the freedom to live her life any way she can imagine. The film follows her discovery of just how precious life is...a discovery that inspires those around her, as well.
After meeting several actresses over the course of many months, Emily and I decided to cast Sarah Michelle Gellar in the title role. We both felt confident that Sarah could project Veronika's combination of vulnerability and strength. Sarah gave an outstanding performance that exceeded our already high expectations.
Sarah is joined onscreen by a talented and diverse group of actors, including Jonathan Tucker, David Thewlis, Melissa Leo and Erika Christensen. The foreign sales are being handled by Velvet Octopus, which has already placed the film with distributors in sixteen international markets. |
Bringing Veronika to the big screen has been the fulfillment of a lifelong dream to make emotionally smart movies based on the novels that I care about. I hope the story touches others as it has me, and I especially look forward to screening the film for Paolo Coelho. -MPM
Photo Courtesy of Das Films; Sriram (on the right) with Emily Young (the film's director) and Seamus Tierney (Veronika's cinematographer), setting up a shot in the garden on location in Yonkers, New York. |
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