The film moves between the 1700s and the 21st century filmset where the filmmakers are working hard to adapt an infamously unfilmable piece of English literature. In the 1700s, Tristram Shandy narrates his own life from his perspective but his attempts to share keep getting interrupted by his family. This ends up telling a lot more about Tristram than his narrative every could. Upon Tristram's birth, the director calls cut and ends the day of
filming. An evening with cast and crew follows. Family arrives, journalists pursue, agents pester and the financial guys threaten to end it all.
The book is also narrated by Tristram Shandy and ends up following not Tristram, but his strange family and the odd circumstances leading up to his birth, The narrative frequently wanders to related and unrelated subjects. Tristram does not really choose a single plot but changes his narrative at will - even to include a sermon, a travelogue, and anecdotes about outside characters. He also uses Greek, Latin and French whenever he feels like throughout the text. He even uses symbols to get certain ideas across. A very unique and forward-thinking novel for the time.
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Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story (2006) - Rated R - 1 hr 34 min
Starring: Jeremy Northam, James Fleet, Robert Brydon, Dylan Moran, Keeley Hawes
Directed by: Michael Winterbottom Screenplay by: Luciano Martino
Genre: Comedy
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Based on The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (1759-67) - 704 pages
Author: Laurence Sterne
Style: First Person, Fictional Autobiography
Genre: Fiction, Humorous, Coming of Age
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