What's your favorite book + film adaptation where it's just 1 film based on a stand-alone book?

[Aristus]

42. "The Seed And The Sower" by Sir Laurence Van Der Post.

Adapted for film as "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence" in 1983, starring Tom Conti, Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto (who wrote the film's score), and David Bowie in a supporting role.

Watching the film always makes me think of Van Helsing's quote from the novel 'Dracula' : "We must go through bitter water to reach the sweet."

The film is a tough slog through the ugliness of humanity, until you get to the heartbreakingly beautiful, tender, life-affirming ending.