July 15, 2014 - 18:07 AMT
“Unaccompanied Sonata” short story to get film treatment

Yaron Zilberman (A Late Quartet) has signed on to write and direct a feature adaptation of Orson Scott Card‘s sci-fi short story “Unaccompanied Sonata”. The story centers on a musical prodigy who is raised in an isolated cabin away from music of any kind to protect his compositions from outside influence. He eventually discovers Bach at age 30, but when caught by a “Watcher,” the former prodigy is forbidden by law from making music ever again, Collider reported.

Nominated for the Nebula Best Short Story in 1979 and Hugo Best Short Story in 1980, “Unaccompanied Sonata” was published two years after Card published the precursor short story “Ender’s Game.” The feature title will be shortened to Sonata.

Card was reluctant to option “Unaccompanied Sonata,” but according to Deadline, A Late Quartet convinced him Zilberman was the perfect director for the material: “I hope I get to see the Zilberman version of ‘Unaccompanied Sonata.’ It is my best story, in the hands of the only director I know of who could possibly make it live as a visual and musical experience.”

Zilberman is excited by the opportunity: “I have always loved this thrilling, poetic and thought-provoking sci-fi story. The short story follows the adventures of an exceptionally gifted musician as he struggles against an unbearable ban from making music, in the face of harsh punishments by a controlling system. I’m eager to bring to life the fascinating maverick protagonist, as well as explore the unique sci-fi concepts central to the story.”