The trailer for Netflix’s newest thriller, The Weekend Away, was released around a month ago, and it has since gotten a lot of positive feedback from viewers. Leighton Meester, who had taken a hiatus from acting, made her big screen comeback with this March 3 streaming platform release.
Meester plays the lead role of Beth, a young lady who takes a much-needed vacation to Croatia with her closest friend Kate, only to have Kate brutally killed while they are there. Many viewers have wondered if the movie is based on a true story.
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What Percentage of The Weekend Away is Based on Actual Events?
The film’s screenplay is written by London-born, Los Angeles-based author Sarah Alderson, who also wrote the novel from which the film is adapted.
During a real-life journey to Lisbon, Portugal, with her best friend, Alderson was struck with the idea for the novel. While no major incidents occurred on the trip itself, she did share with My Imperfect Life how her time overseas inspired a story on the power of female friendships:
Many times in my life, it was my female friends that came to my rescue. I hoped that the value I place on friendship would shine through in the film.
Both the book and the movie centre on the importance of friendship, with Meester’s character, Beth, abandoning her life to discover what happened to Christina Wolfe’s character, Kate. Alderson also shared that she hopes today’s young women would grow up without feeling the need to have it all figured out:
It’s not uncommon to feel like the decisions you make in your twenties and thirties will set the tone for the rest of your life. I believe I implied that it is appropriate to raise doubts and consider making adjustments.
How do the Novel and Film Adaptation Vary From one Another?
The film is entertaining and engaging because of its unexpected turns and hilarity. The protagonist’s name in the book is Orla, while in the movie it’s Beth.
If The Cinemaholic is to be believed, production was originally scheduled to take place in Lisbon (where the author spent his real vacation) before being relocated to Croatia owing to concerns over the spread of COVID.
Although the novel ends on a significant cliffhanger, the film’s conclusion is more satisfying and grounded in reality.
Despite having some basis in and inspiration from the author’s own life, the exhilarating film The Weekend Away is thankfully not a direct adaptation of any real event.
Additionally, it’s fantastic to have the Gossip Girl actress back in the movie industry. In addition to her position as Angie on ABC’s Single Parents, which she will continue to play through 2020, she also has a recurring part on Hulu’s How I Met Your Father.
Alderson is also a famous writer; among his many books for young adults are the bestsellers The Sound, Hunting Lila, Losing Lila, and Out of Control.
