Ruth Negga and Tessa Thompson appear in Passing by Rebecca Hall, an official selection of the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Edu Grau.
By Jesssica Herndon
Summer reading often evokes breezy beach reads tucked into a tote bag. But not every great vacation book is all sunshine and escapism. Some stories linger, haunt, and send us down rabbit holes by asking intense questions about identity, family, love, and society. Feel good, evocative, or eerie, the best summer reads are the ones you can’t stop thinking about. And, in the right hands, they become unforgettable films.
For decades, the Sundance Film Festival has championed filmmakers who transform adored books into something entirely their own. These storytellers didn’t just recreate what was on the page. They made the adaptations their own, capturing the emotion and deepening the work’s impact through their unique lenses.
Whether you’re packing for a getaway or staying close to home, consider this your summer reading list with a cinematic edge. From the exploration of race and identity in Passing to the homesick romance of Brooklyn and the raw portrait of a fractured family in We the Animals, these incredible stories should be both read and watched.
Like Water for Chocolate (1993 Sundance Film Festival)
What happens when your family keeps you from the man you love? You pour your energy into cooking. This plight and passion is at the heart of Like Water for Chocolate, which was adapted from Laura Esquivel’s book. As Tita (Azul Guaita) cooks, each dish mysteriously transfers her emotions to those who eat it. Directed by Alfonso Arau from a screenplay by Esquivel, the adaptation keeps the novel’s title and preserves its romance, magical realism, and family drama.
The Virgin Suicides (2000 Sundance Film Festival)
The five Lisbon sisters captivate the imagination of the neighborhood boys, whose fascination with the girls only deepens after tragedy strikes. Sofia Coppola’s feature directorial debut, based on the acclaimed novel by Jeffrey Eugenides, is a haunting classic that preserves the book’s dreamlike atmosphere while establishing the distinct ethereal visual style that has come to define her career.
American Psycho (2000 Sundance Film Festival)
By day, Patrick Bateman is a polished Wall Street investment banker. By night, his carefully curated life gives way to something sinister. Mary Harron’s American Psycho is based on the controversial novel of the same name by Bret Easton Ellis. Starring Christian Bale as the unforgettable villain, the adaptation transforms Ellis’s satire into a sharp critique of excess and masculinity.
Towelhead (2008 Sundance Film Festival)
Set in suburban Texas during the Gulf War, Towelhead is told through the eyes of a young Arab American girl. It follows teenage Jasira (Summer Bishil) as she navigates adolescence, cultural identity, and the complexities of growing up between two worlds. Directed by Alan Ball, the film is based on Towelhead by Alicia Erian.
The Spectacular Now (2013 Sundance Film Festival; winner of the Special Jury Prize for Acting)
When high school senior Sutter (Miles Teller) falls for Aimee (Shailene Woodley), the relationship forces him to confront his future, his family, and himself. James Ponsoldt’s film, which won the Special Jury Prize for Acting for the performances of Teller and Woodley, keeps the novel’s title while bringing Tim Tharp’s emotionally raw story to the screen with deep sensitivity.
Brooklyn (2015 Sundance Film Festival)
Sometimes the most profound journeys begin with a single goodbye. Based on Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín, this drama follows Eilis Lacey, a young Irish immigrant torn between the life she left behind and the one she’s building in 1950s New York. Directed by John Crowley, the film retains the novel’s title and captures the ache of displacement and first love. Anchored by Saoirse Ronan’s Oscar-nominated performance, Brooklyn premiered at the Fest before earning three Academy Awards nominations, including Best Picture.
The Diary of a Teenage Girl (2015 Sundance Film Festival)
Based on The Diary of a Teenage Girl by Phoebe Gloeckner, this coming-of-age story follows Minnie Goetze (Bel Powley), an artistic teenager navigating her first love and self-discovery in 1970s San Francisco. Directed by Marielle Heller, the film keeps the graphic novel’s title and blends live action with animated illustrations inspired by Gloeckner’s original artwork. Debuting at the Fest, the film announced Heller as a bold voice in film.
We the Animals (2018 Sundance Film Festival; winner of the NEXT Innovator Prize)
Jeremiah Zagar’s drama follows Jonah (Evan Rosado), the youngest of three brothers growing up in a volatile yet deeply loving household in New York. Retaining the novel’s title while translating author Justin Torres’ poetic prose into effecting imagery, the film explores the chaos and tenderness of a family’s bond.
Wildlife (2018 Sundance Film Festival)
Richard Ford’s novel Wildlife inspired the film adaptation, which was Paul Dano’s feature directorial debut. Poignant, harrowing, and anchored by deeply affecting performances from Carey Mulligan and Jake Gyllenhaal, Dano’s take captures the unraveling of a marriage and the 14-year-old forced to witness the heartbreak.
Native Son (2019 Sundance Film Festival)
As Bigger Thomas (Ashton Sanders) accepts a job as a chauffeur for a wealthy Chicago family, a single night sets off a chain of events that exposes the harsh realities of race, privilege, and systemic injustice. Directed by Rashid Johnson, Native Son reimagines Richard Wright’s groundbreaking 1940 novel, updating the story for contemporary audiences while preserving its urgent social commentary.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (2019 Sundance Film Festival; winner of the Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize)
William Kamkwamba (Maxwell Simba) refuses to give up when famine threatens his village in Malawi. Celebrating perseverance in the face of extraordinary odds, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind was Chiwetel Ejiofor’s directorial debut. It was based on the memoir of the same name by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer.
Passing (2021 Sundance Film Festival)
Childhood friends Irene (Tessa Thompson) and Clare (Ruth Negga) reunite decades later, forcing both women to confront questions of race, identity, and belonging in 1920s New York. Directed by Rebecca Hall, the stunning black-and-white adaptation is based on the 1929 novel by Nella Larsen, and retains its original title.
Looking to embark on an adaptation project of your own? Get set up for creative success with the four-week Sundance Collab course Writing Screenplay Adaptations, led by Oscar-nominated screenwriter Robin Swicord (Memoirs of a Geisha, Matilda, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button). Starting July 6, delve into how to condense hundreds of pages of source material into a cinematic experience and more.
