What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Remains of the Day
KAZUO. ISHIGURO · Book · 2019
If you loved The Remains of the Day, start with The Remains of the Day (James Ivory, 1993) — a film from the same story. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Remains of the Day across media.
If you loved The Remains of the Day, you are drawn to stories where repressed emotions and rigid social structures collide.
Start with the source
The source
The Remains of the Day
James Ivory · Film · 1993
Films on the same thread
The English Patient
Anthony Minghella · Film · 1996
Explores: Forbidden Love, Adultery, Betrayal.
Like The Remains of the Day, this film explores the heavy intersection of memory and lost love, set against the backdrop of historical shifts that reshape personal destinies forever.
Rebecca
Alfred Hitchcock · Film · 1940
Explores: jealousy, obsession, secrets.
You will recognize the stifling atmosphere of a grand house in this story, where the haunting weight of the past dictates the present just as it does in The Remains of the Day.
Groundhog Day
Harold Ramis · Film · 1993
Explores: Redemption, Existentialism, Self-Improvement.
While lighter in tone, this narrative mirrors the existential reflection found in The Remains of the Day, as a man finally confronts the missed opportunities of his own life.
The Rules of the Game
Jean Renoir · Film · 1939
Explores: Aristocracy, Adultery, Social Decay.
This film provides a sharp, satirical look at the same aristocratic social decay and rigid class codes that underpin the quiet tragedy of Stevens in The Remains of the Day.
Series on the same thread
The Leftovers
Damon Lindelof · Series · 2014
Explores: Grief, Loss, Faith.
Much like the internal landscape of The Remains of the Day, this series examines how individuals navigate profound grief and the lingering trauma of a world that has fundamentally changed.
Pride and Prejudice
Andrew Davies · Series · 1995
Explores: Social Class, Courtship, Misunderstandings.
This period drama captures the intricate social nuances and the struggle between personal desire and class expectations that define the central conflict in The Remains of the Day.
Patrick Melrose
David Nicholls · Series · 2018
Explores: Trauma, Addiction, Upper-class dysfunction.
This series offers a searing, intimate look at the dysfunction of the upper class, echoing the critique of social hierarchies found throughout the narrative of The Remains of the Day.
The Singing Detective
Dennis Potter · Series · 1986
Shares a thread with The Remains of the Day: Nostalgia.
This story mirrors the psychological depth of The Remains of the Day by using an unreliable, introspective narrator to piece together fragments of identity and memory amidst physical decline.
Podcasts on the same thread
1619
The New York Times · Podcast · 2019
Explores: systemic racism, national identity, legacy of slavery.
If The Remains of the Day helped you understand how personal history is shaped by systemic forces, this series provides a rigorous examination of the legacy defining national identity.
Slaggy Book Club
Podcast
Explores: Contemporary Literature, Book Recommendations, Literary Analysis.
For those who appreciated the literary precision of The Remains of the Day, this podcast provides the thoughtful analysis and deep dive into themes that you crave in fiction.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Remains of the Day based on a book?
Yes, The Remains of the Day is based on the 1989 novel by Kazuo Ishiguro. The book won the Booker Prize and serves as the source material for the 1993 movie adaptation. Both versions explore the life of the butler Stevens as he reflects on his past.
What is the premise of The Remains of the Day?
The Remains of the Day follows Stevens, an ageing butler at Darlington Hall, during a 1956 road trip through the English countryside. The story examines his memories of life in a Great English House between the wars, focusing on themes of lost love and his dedication to his profession.
Should I watch the 1993 movie version of The Remains of the Day?
If you enjoyed the book, you may appreciate the 1993 film adaptation of The Remains of the Day. The movie captures the haunting atmosphere and the narrative of Stevens the butler as he reconciles with his history and the choices he made while serving at Darlington Hall.
Who wrote The Remains of the Day?
The Remains of the Day was written by Kazuo Ishiguro. First published in 1989, this contemporary classic won the Booker Prize and depicts the internal life of a butler named Stevens as he travels through the English countryside while reflecting on his years of service between the two world wars.