Transnational Film Adaptation and Its Repercussions on Film Content: A Study of Lee Hwan-Kyung’s “Miracle in Cell No. 7”

Abstract

This study aimed to examine how a film's content was affected by culture when it is adapted in a transnational context. The research was based on format adaptations in films context. The theoretical framework for this study was the Theory of Adaptation and the purpose was to analyze how the nature of the adapted film and its format elements were modified for the local audience and how the original film was influenced by it. The study followed a qualitative research design, and in-depth analysis of the adaptations was conducted. The South Korean film "Miracle in Cell No.7" and its three adaptations were analyzed for this purpose. The data collected from the sample was analyzed through thematic content analysis and three major themes were emerged i.e., culture, narrative structure and time and space. The findings of the study indicated that culture has a substantial influence on the content of adaptations, as evidenced by the incorporation of diverse cultural elements, such as language, religion, and local customs, into the films. These results support the idea that adaptations are independent works that evolve based on their cultural origins and localized to provide audiences with a distinctive viewing experience while remaining faithful to the source material.