Author Tracey Farren and film director Meg Rickards held a session at the Cape Flats Book Festival over the weekend, discussing the acclaimed book and film Snake.
The story, originally written as a novel and screenplay by Ms Farren, has received international recognition, including Best Feature at the Florence International Film Festival.
Ms Farren, a former journalist, wrote her first three novels while working in the media. Her earlier work, Tess, tells the story of a woman in the sex trade who becomes pregnant.
The film adaptation won Best Feature at the Durban International Film Festival, she said.
Ms Farren is known for her ability to create deep, authentic characters, drawing inspiration from her surroundings. At the time of writing Snake, she lived on a farm, and the environment heavily influenced the characters and story, she said.
Themes such as alcoholism, trauma, and family struggle were drawn from personal experience, including her own father’s battle with alcohol, said Ms Farren.
Snake began as a dark comedy but evolved into a psychological thriller, Ms Farren said. The story follows a young coloured girl whose life is upended by a charming stranger, reminiscent of a saviour figure, but the narrative takes unexpected and troubling turns.
Ms Farren explained that the little girl in the story “called for me to take it deeper,” prompting her to move beyond comedy and explore the trauma in the narrative.
Meg Rickards, who directed the film adaptation, described the process of bringing the novel to screen as complex and challenging. From deciding which scenes to cut to ensuring the safe inclusion of snakes in the film, the adaptation required careful planning and collaboration.
Lamiyah Bernard from Kraaifontein, who played the young girl, won best actress in the youth jury award at the Florence International Film Festival. Ms Rickards highlighted the strict regulations around filming with children and the detailed preparation required for authenticity.
Ms Farren and Ms Rickards both emphasised the importance of staying true to the story while embracing transposition, reimagination, and reconstruction for the screen.
The Snake novel, screenplay, and film are available on Amazon Prime and Evod (E-TV) streaming channels. The book is popular and well-suited for young adult readers.
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