Film Based on "A Martian Sends a Postcard Home"
In Craig Raine's poem "A Martian Sends a Postcard Home" the very literal in essence it is a Martian writing to his people back home. The theme of difference and alienation (no pun intended) is represented by the Martians lack of the proper words or terms to describe everyday things. This suggests that while the Martian can observe and listen to people and things around him it is quite evident that he does not have any social interaction even on a casual level. One of the most important aspects of a film trying to depict this poem would be for it to keep that sense of isolation and confusion that a reader of this poem would feel. The poem also forces a reader to think about what the Martian is describing despite the fact that he is describing very familiar objects and activities.
Martian Invasion 3
Martian Invasion 2
Martian Invasion 1In a film version of this poem the narrator/Martian would not be a visual character, in more of a fly on the wall type of way the audience would see through the eye of the Martian. There would be no actual scene changes, no black outs when the poem moves from one place to another the Martian will become mobile and quick camera movements will make the audience feel as though the are moving with the Martian. The poem will not have much audio track because this will add to the isolation and allow the sounds that are emphasized more impact. The film will also show the actual object/activity being described as well as the Martian's comparative counterpart, which will be in hazy flashback type scenes.
The film would open with silence with the camera swirling into a room from above and swooping...