Austrian writer-director Angela Summereder has premiered her latest film, B for Bartleby, which creatively adapts Herman Melville’s iconic short story, “Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street.” The film is currently being showcased at the Viennale after its world premiere at Doclisboa over the weekend.
The film offers a unique interpretation of Melville’s work, focusing on the challenges of translating written language into visual and auditory experiences. A synopsis on the Viennale website describes the film as a broader cinematic reflection that delves into the “impossibility of translating written language into images and sounds.” The narrative is enriched by the inclusion of Melville-themed tours, theatrical performances, and personal reflections on adaptation styles.
Summereder’s journey in creating this film has deep emotional roots, stemming from her late partner, Benedikt Zulauf, who had long envisioned a cinematic adaptation of the story. Zulauf, a librarian and actor known for his role in Straub-Huillet’s “Geschichtsunterricht” (1972), had approached Summereder twice about collaborating on the project. Their conversations about the film, which are partially included in B for Bartleby, reveal the complexity and urgency behind the endeavor.
“Listening to them was really interesting, and you can tell how complicated the film discussions were,” Summereder shared in an interview. “But there was also his sense of urgency, which really touched me.” Following Zulauf’s passing, Summereder found herself at a standstill for two years until rediscovering recorded conversations that reignited her creative process.
The film not only reflects on the challenges of filmmaking but also introduces a fresh perspective by featuring female characters in a narrative traditionally dominated by men. Summereder points out that Melville’s original work is set in an all-male environment, lacking any mention of women. However, she found inspiration in Melville’s personal life, noting his relationships with women who supported his writing.
In B for Bartleby, a trio of women perform theatrically, acting as mediators while the male characters engage in solitary writing. “It was important to me that the women act as a collective and the men as individuals,” she explained. Children also play a significant role in the film, with scenes depicting them reading and discussing Melville’s story, adding another layer of depth to the narrative.
“Working with different social and age groups is one of the most rewarding aspects of filmmaking,” Summereder noted. In collaboration with a local youth center, she engaged with children and even incorporated local rappers into the film as they explored creating a Bartleby-inspired rap.
The result is a cinematic experience that transcends traditional film narratives. Summereder expresses a desire to evoke emotion and connection, inviting audiences to engage with the story on a deeper level. “I didn’t want to bring a certain claimed reality to the screen, but make it more about emotion,” she stated.
Looking ahead, Summereder plans to continue her hybrid filmmaking style in her next project, which will explore themes of motherhood and climate, inspired by the Percival epos. The film will once again focus on female characters, further extending her exploration of literature through the lens of modern cinematic techniques.
As B for Bartleby continues to screen internationally, it stands as a testament to the complexities of adaptation and the emotional narratives that can emerge from the intersection of literature and film.