The Innocents

Translating the narrative voice to a visual medium is a difficulty in properly adapting any book to film. The Innocents succeeds primarily in transposing the fear and uncertainty of the governess' perspectives into visual personality cues in Miss Giddens character. The film also preserves the romanticized attitude toward Bly and the children in Miss Giddens, who marvels at their 'beauty' and generally 'agreeable' demeanor. Miles is portrayed as mischievously flirty with Miss Giddens, but the film chooses to highlight his paranormal 'abilities' as they appear to Miss Giddens, rather than attempt to convey the intimate tension that runs between the two throughout the novel.
I thought The Innocents established itself as a different interpretation of the Henry James story from the moment it introduced the uncle character in the hiring scene. In regards to Miss Giddens and her interactions with the uncle, this scene lacked any of the allure or mystery compared to the way the novel frames the governess' initial meetings with her employer. By diffusing the relationship with the uncle, Miss Giddens lacks the deranged edge that inflects the novel's narration. The ghost encounters in the novel seem to be machinations of her endless quest to imagine a scenario where her employer may be forced to visit her at Bly. In The Innocents, the focus lies more on the children and their seemingly feigned ignorance of the paranormal events happening around them. This is echoed cryptically by both Flora and Miles. In his room, Miles blames the sudden slamming of the windows, (after his subtle gestured toward them), on the wind. Flora explains to the governess that "[they] are told to pretend [they] didn't hear," in reference to any potential ghosts or spirits amongst them. Overall, the most important question posed by The Innocents wonders who the true 'innocents' are in this story, if anyone. Within the novel and the movie, arguments can be made for both the children and the governess.