Narrative Translation and Cinematic Interpretation: Charles Matthau's Adaptation of Truman Capote's Lyrical-Philosophical Novel the Grass Harp

The article examines the relationship between Truman Capote's novel The Grass Harp and Charles Matthau's 1995 film adaptation through the lens of adaptation studies, narratology, and intermedial analysis. While Capote's novel is distinguished by its lyrical prose, introspective narration, and subtle exploration of memory, individuality, and human relationships, Matthau's film translates these literary qualities into a visual medium by employing cinematic narrative techniques, performance, music, and symbolic imagery. The study investigates how the adaptation negotiates the transition from verbal to audiovisual storytelling, identifying both the preservation and transformation of the novel's thematic and aesthetic features. Particular attention is devoted to the representation of the American South as a cultural and symbolic space that shapes the characters' identities and moral choices. The article explores the ways in which the film reconstructs Capote's portrayal of Southern values, family relationships, social conventions, and personal freedom while responding to the expectations of a contemporary cinematic audience. The analysis demonstrates that the adaptation does not merely reproduce the literary source but offers an independent artistic interpretation that expands certain narrative elements, restructures episodes, and modifies characterization in accordance with the expressive possibilities of film. The comparative analysis reveals that although the film preserves the central philosophical ideas of Capote's novel, that is compassion, friendship, tolerance, self-discovery, and resistance to social conformity, it inevitably reduces the psychological depth achieved through the narrator's reflective voice. Conversely, the cinematic version compensates for this loss through visual symbolism, expressive acting, carefully composed settings, and an emotionally resonant soundtrack that communicate meanings unavailable in 98 the literary medium. The article argues that Matthau's adaptation exemplifies the creative nature of literary adaptation, demonstrating how cinema reinterprets rather than replicates a literary text. Ultimately, the study contributes to adaptation theory by illustrating the dynamic interaction between literature and film and highlighting the continuing cultural relevance of The Grass Harp across different artistic media.