Film Adaptation of Chinua Achebe’s Works: Comparing Dramatic Fidelity and Cinematic Interpretation

This study examines film adaptations of selected works by Chinua Achebe, analysing the extent of dramatic fidelity to source texts and the interpretive choices made by filmmakers in translating literary narrative to cinematic performance. Achebe's novels, particularly Things Fall Apart and Arrow of God, are rich with dramatic potential, including conflict, ritual, and character complexity that lend themselves to theatrical and cinematic adaptation. The research compares the narrative structures, character representations, and thematic treatments of the original literary texts with their film adaptations produced by Nigerian and international filmmakers. A comparative textual and filmic analysis methodology was employed, guided by adaptation theory and dramatic criticism frameworks. The study finds that film adaptations of Achebe's works tend to simplify complex internal psychological conflicts for visual storytelling purposes, occasionally at the expense of thematic depth. Cultural specificity, particularly in the representation of Igbo ritual and communal governance, is also frequently diluted in productions targeting international audiences. The research concludes that while film adaptation inevitably involves creative interpretation, greater engagement with cultural consultants and original community contexts can produce more authentic cinematic representations. Keywords: Chinua Achebe, film adaptation, dramatic fidelity, Igbo culture, cinematic interpretation.