Sam Esmail on Adapting 'Leave the World Behind' and the Cinematic Medium
Director Sam Esmail discusses his adaptation of 'Leave the World Behind' and his approach to storytelling, including the use of ambiguity and suspense.
Adapting the Novel
Sam Esmail first encountered 'Leave the World Behind' during the first year of the pandemic, and he was immediately drawn to the thematic exploration of how people can lose sight of their common humanity during a crisis. The book also presented the opportunity to invert the usual disaster film formula by focusing on the characters and letting the disaster element exist more in the distance. Esmail saw this as a more authentic portrayal of how humans would experience a crisis.
The filmmaker also noted that the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic and the paranoia that arose from it played a role in his attraction to the story. He wanted to capture the sense of ambiguity and provoke questions in the audience, leaving them with a feeling of not knowing the answers. Esmail saw this as a way to reflect the real-life fears and anxieties that people experience during times of crisis.
The Cinematic Medium
Esmail discussed the differences between literary and cinematic mediums when it comes to storytelling. While literature allows for more abstract and open-ended interpretations, films require a bit more hand-holding for the audience. Esmail wanted to embrace the tone of the ambiguous ending in the novel but also recognized the need to provide a little more clarity for the cinematic medium.
He explained that in the film's ending, the audience is shown glimpses of the disaster occurring, but the exact details and causes are left unknown. This intentional ambiguity aims to provoke conversation and leave the audience with a sense of paranoia. Esmail wanted the film to balance between abstraction and providing enough information for the audience to engage with the story.
Themes of Infighting and Mistrust
Esmail touched on the themes of infighting and mistrust portrayed in the film. He wanted to explore how a crisis can lead to the erosion of common humanity, causing people to turn against each other. The film depicts a scenario where the unknown threat feeds off the anxiety and confusion, causing people to divide and turn guns on each other.
He also mentioned that real-life fears and anxieties, such as xenophobia and the triggering of worst instincts, were essential elements to include in the story. Esmail felt that addressing these themes was crucial to creating an authentic portrayal of humanity's response to a crisis.
