In the galaxy of authors most often adapted for the screen, Philip K. Dick is definitely the pick of the bunch. Thus, at least a dozen short stories or novels have been brought to the big screen, with more or less success elsewhere.
Against absolute masterpieces like Blade Runner or the pretty solid Minority Report and A Scanner Darkly, there are adaptations like Next or Paycheck that didn’t quite shine in the 7th art world…
It was written in 1962 and won the prestigious Hugo Award for Best Novel the following year. High Castle Master is one of the most famous and read works of K. Dick in the world. A cult timeless novel, it also has a reputation for being more or less inappropriate (much like Ubik, on which Michel Gondry broke his teeth), so much introspection and subplots abound. Even the author implements a mise en abime by creating the achronia within. There really is no such thing Hollywood mainstream Love it if you don’t use generous edits…
It should also be said that the adaptation of this novel had a very, very difficult birth. We have been talking about this since 2010. At that time, Ridley Scott’s production company, Scott Free, wanted to take care of it, with the blessing of the BBC, which eventually backed down. Then it was time to exit the SyFy Channel project.
The legacy is finally secured thanks to Amazon Studios. and Ridley Scott as executive producer, who was full of St. By Dick’s works: “The Master of the High Castle is one of Dickey’s most imaginative and engaging works. Certainly one of my favourites.”
If the original project was to create a mini-series in four episodes, in the end ten, only the pilot, written by Frank Spotnitz (known to fans of X-Files) and directed by David Semmel, saw the light of day.
Presented to Premium subscribers, they then had to vote to give a positive or negative response to that pilot, thereby transforming the test. And the least we can say is that the response from the public and critics has been overwhelmingly positive. Enthusiasm for the series, which enjoyed widespread word of mouth, eventually allowed it to be developed for no less than four seasons, from 2015 to 2019.
Absolutely terrifying alternate history
Based on the principle of alternate history, the novel describes a terrible world. Consider an alternate reality in which the Allies lost World War II to Nazi Germany, imperialist Japan, and fascist Italy.
After the Allied capitulation in 1947, the Nazis now occupied part of the American territory and Japan occupied the other, forming the Great Nazi Reich and the Peaceful States of Japan. In the center, the area representing the vassalized and bloodless country where the rejects of society are sent.
The story takes place in 1962. Hitler is 73 years old and sick. Goebbels and Himmler are fighting to replace him as the leader of the Great Reich. A secret life-and-death struggle began in the American territory, ruthlessly suppressed by the Nazi and Japanese occupiers, in an attempt to resist.
The polite diplomatic relations between these two occupying powers are only a facade: Nazi Germany actually hates their Japanese allies, to the point of preparing to strike them soon…
We will not say more about the risk of spoiling the unexpected effect. With obsessive attention to detail, both in terms of sets and costumes, to best immerse the audience in its logically very depressing atmosphere, the series features a sensational line-up of talent.
Franco-American actress Alexa Davalos, despite the opposition. Joel de la Fuente, chilling as the ruthless inspector KenpeitaiThe equivalent of the Japanese Gestapo. Brennan Brown as an antiques dealer who plays a key role in the events of the country’s destruction.
But we have to give a special mention to Rufus Sewell, absolutely brilliant and terrifying in the guise of an ex-US Army officer who pledged allegiance to the Nazis and managed to climb to the top of the state at the cost of all possible compromises and sacrifices. , among them of course the worst.
On the famous question “And if…”, whose thinking can easily become dizzy, The man in the high castle Definitely top of the basket. Must see!
Source: Allocine
Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.
