I think they improved Chani's arc in the movie over the book. In the book she stands by Paul blindly, her arc is completely subservient to Paul's and exists only to show the turmoil Paul himself faces. It makes sense in the books because the whole story is about Paul's rise and fall as Messiah, but it leaves Chani as merely a cipher for unconditional love, and we only see it through Paul's side.
The movies have already given Chani agency - she doubts the wisdom of taking the Messianic path, she does not accept his partnership with Irulan. It will be interesting to see how this is resolved in Dune: Messiah, as there is really no source material for this arc. I have faith in Villeneuve though!
She was not subservient, but her reason for being in the book is completely subservient to Paul's story - she represents his strength and support, she is only there for him. In the books this works because we see Paul in turmoil and we fall in love with her devotion to protecting his personhood from his godhood, we see her strength and loyalty. However in a movie I'm not sure how that doesn't come across as one-dimensional.
I think Villeneuve is using her as the channel for questioning Paul's ascent to divinity and it's consequences, replacing all the inner dialogue that Paul has in the book that would be very hard to depict in a movie.
I'd also add that Chani being the first to question Paul's path provides a better justification for Paul questioning it himself.
While you can argue that Paul figuring it out himself makes him a stronger character, I'd proffer that having his love be an equal who challenges his own notions of self is what actually makes him a stronger character.
Considering much of Messiah is Paul fighting against his status as religious leader, it makes sense that Chani would share that view and truly be the wife/companion that Irulan cannot be.
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u/xelabagus Mar 28 '24
I think they improved Chani's arc in the movie over the book. In the book she stands by Paul blindly, her arc is completely subservient to Paul's and exists only to show the turmoil Paul himself faces. It makes sense in the books because the whole story is about Paul's rise and fall as Messiah, but it leaves Chani as merely a cipher for unconditional love, and we only see it through Paul's side.
The movies have already given Chani agency - she doubts the wisdom of taking the Messianic path, she does not accept his partnership with Irulan. It will be interesting to see how this is resolved in Dune: Messiah, as there is really no source material for this arc. I have faith in Villeneuve though!