The main character in the American movie “High Fidelity,” based on the book of the same name by British writer Nick Hornby, is Rob. In short, the works tell of how the owner of a vinyl store cannot accept the termination of a loving relationship. Both versions were published at about the same time, in the late ’90s and early ’00s, consequently, the work raises the current agenda of patriarchal and selfish views of men on relationships and sex. It is worth admitting that in both versions, Rob is an exaggerated image of an infantile and narcissistic audiophile who is unhealthily obsessed with his former beloved Laura and even after the breakup does not give her a quiet life. This is reflected in the fact that the man continues to seek meetings with her, continually pursues and pesters her with questions about a new boyfriend, and does not stop imposing his opinions. Operating in modern terms, one can safely call Rob a toxic partner who even wants to clarify the sexual details of an ex-girlfriend’s intimate new life.
The book was chosen as a source for the film, but the plot was significantly adapted to the American viewer. First of all, it concerns the change of the film’s location: unlike the book north of London, the film was shown in Chicago. This choice was justified the wishes of the actor performing the central role, and the appropriate musical atmosphere of the city. Actor Cusack said that he thought of Chicago during the reading of the script because he knew what sort of vinyl shops and bars it talks about (Bazza). Moreover, Chicago has a fantastic atmosphere of free music life — the film was shot in city street squares and jazz bars. To create a complete lifestyle for Rob, the director planned to convey the local culture that is characteristic only of Chicago’s districts.
These changes had a qualitative impact on the film’s cultural code. It is worth talking that the change of location is a rather radical decision of the director, which, however, was liked by critics. The main comments from film experts included statements about the authenticity of the plot, sensually conveying the atmosphere of the Chicago spirit and music (Coffel). In terms of commercial payback, despite good reviews from viewers and critics, the film was able to earn more than 47 million dollars with a set budget of 30 million dollars.
Works Cited
Bazza, “John Cusack Takes Fives.” iofilm, 2003, Web.
Coffel, Chris. “What Critics Said About ‘High Fidelity’.” Film School Rejects, 2020, Web.
“High Fidelity.” IMDb, 2018, Web.