Further reflections on Corelli's Mandolin

In the book, I would really have to say that Carlo is the most compelling character.

After I watched the movie with my friend Katharina, she hated it because there was no development of the reasons why Pelagia herself chose Corelli over Mandras. In the book, it was clear why she didn't like Mandras, but the reasons for loving Corelli were unclear. On the other hand, the reason for loving many people is unclear to those not in the relationship, so maybe this isn't such a failing. She also commented that Corelli was immature and selfish, which I didn't agree with, but having read the book, I am more inclined to agree with her argument.

Another interesting comparison between the book and the movie is the treatment of the partisans. In the movie, they were portrayed as being noble, and Mandras finds his place with them. In the book, they are portayed simply as brigands and opportunists and Mandras also finds his place with them, though being somewhat misguided in his understanding of the whole situation. I think that this twist in the movie is particularly untrue to the work of the book's author, since he made a point of writing comments in an afterward pointing out that if one is interested in looking at the primary sources, one quickly sees that the partisans on Greece at the end of the 2nd World War committed attrocities as bad as any committed during the war itself by others, including the Nazis.