Oliver Twist Book and Film Review

Oliver Twist is a novel by Charles Dickens, which tells the story of Oliver Twist, an orphan and lived in a workhouse, became a dependent child of the village. The story begins when the workhouse does not treat him well, then he is sold for breaking the rules. For some reason, then he runs away to London, a dangerous place for a nine-year-old child.

Oliver is a young boy whose survival sometimes depends on people who will use him badly. In London, then he met a child, maybe his age, who is usually called Dodger, “The Artful Dodger”. Through Dodger, Oliver knew a Jew named Fagin and a bunch of his young pickpockets. All conflicts began to emerge when Oliver joined into a part that might be considered as a small family of Fagin. This novel has actually been filmed repeatedly, about 1933, 1948, 1968 (musical), and the last in 2005.

I myself have watched Oliver Twist film directed by Roman Polanski in 2005. For this reason, I will give a review of the novel and film Oliver Twist in 2005. The storyline, which was told in Polanski's film is not much different from the original novel, but in this film, we cannot find out who is the real family of Oliver Twist, how he met his half brother and knows who his parents are.

In the novel, it is told that actually, Oliver Twist is the son of a rich family, the result of a dark relationship named Mr. Leeford, an old friend from Mr. Brownlow, and his mother, Agnes Fleming, a retired naval officer's daughter. Whereas in Polanski’s film, it is only told that Oliver Twist finally lives happily being part of the Mr. Brownlow family and his maid Mrs. Bedwin.

As for some of the differences in character contained in Polanski’s film and Dickens's novel, among them are Fagin figures, strange old men who rule the family of pickpockets. Fagin was a Jew in Dickens' novel, while in the film it never identified Fagin as a Jew, and did not describe him as an evil exploit of children. Exploiter yes, but not evil: it seems like Fagin is just observing, he saves abandoned children from a far worse fate waiting for them on the cruel streets of London and teaches them skills and cunning to survive.

That is why the next to last film scenes are very interesting. Oliver has been saved by his benefactor, a good bookseller, Mr. Brownlow and Fagin has been sentenced to death. Oliver asks to see Fagin, and Mr. Brownlow takes him to the old man's cell, where they find sad destruction and self-pity. In the novel, Oliver asks the Fagin to pray with him, and says, "God, forgive this poor man!" In the film, he said that, and something more: "You're good to me."

In the film, the Fagin character treats Oliver better than the workhouse and court of respectable society. The line "You are good to me" is not a sentimental addition intended to soften the end, but it might be the description of Fagin's character according to the director, who is not a good person but not as bad as it might happen.

In Dickens's novel, there is tell a bright kindness from Mr. Brownlow, who trusts pickpockets accused of money and books. The pure goodness of the old village woman, who pity and love the child. Nancy's heroism, which risked her own life to save Oliver's life. And even Dodger's mixed feelings, which betrayed Nancy to Bill and then had second thoughts and regrets. The true-crime in this film is seen in Bill Sykes, who arrived at the terrible and deserving end, by accidentally hanging himself. Polanski's film is visually precise and detailed without being too beautiful. The show is clearer and tense.

Overall, both the novel and the film are beautiful and have many teachings. They tell the way that orphans are persecuted in a workhouse, it also prepares people and teaches them not to expect good from everyone they meet because there are some truly terrible people out there in the real world. It also told that Oliver met many people, some of them were kind and loving but on the other hand, there were cruel and evil people.

As for the very cruel character, one of Fagin's friends named Bill Sikes and a very nice man named Mr. Brownlow. They contradict each other and they have a big influence on life and what ultimately happens to little Oliver Twist. I really enjoyed both the book and the film because there were many ups and downs and unexpected things that happened. It was exciting and full of tension.