EXCLUSIVE: Alibi Media has snapped up film rights to Juan Gabriel Vásquez’s acclaimed 2014 novel The Sound of Things Falling, tapping House of Gucci screenwriter Roberto Bentivegna to direct the project as his first feature, from his own script.
The novel published by Penguin Group imprint Riverhead Books follows Antonio Yammara, who after being injured in a shootout and witnessing the murder of the mysterious Ricardo Laverde, decides to find out who his friend really was, beginning a journey into the dark heart of Colombia’s drug trade.
What follows is an investigation into a dead man’s past, and a pilgrimage to unlock that most elusive thing: the truth. Widely considered one of the most important Latin American novels of the century, The Sound of Things Falling won Spain’s prestigious Premio Alfaguara in 2011 before going on to win prizes including Italy’s Premio Gregor von Rezzori-Città di Firenze and the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award.
The New York Times bestseller has been published in 30 languages and 50+ countries worldwide. The feature adaptation will be produced by Alibi’s Founder and CEO, Cristina Palacio. “I’m thrilled to have this novel adapted to the screen by Roberto Bentivegna, whose work I admire, and produced by the wonderful Cristina Palacio,” Vásquez told Deadline. “The book couldn’t be in better hands.” Stated Bentivegna: “When Cristina brought The Sound Of Things Falling to my attention last year, I was immediately captivated by it.
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