Good writing translates, and great writing transcends. It's no wonder that Paul Auster's prose has found its way onto the big screen in the form of a film - and not only has the author written it, he directs it. This is not the novelist's first foray into the visual world; he collaborated with Wayne Wang on Smoke and co-directed Blue In the Face, as well as writing and directing his first feature, Lulu On the Bridge.

The story of The Inner Life of Martin Frost is really a story about a story. Martin Frost, toiling away for three years on the ultimate novel, borrows a friend's empty country house in order to rest his literary-weary bones. Seeking asylum from the assault of the written word, as soon as he arrives at the home, another story idea takes shape.

After a night's sleep, he wakes to find a strange and, of course, attractive young woman with him. Martin makes the leap that this is Claire, his friend's niece. She advances, he retreats, but ultimately, he gets caught up in the thrill of the chase.

So, we have a mystery and romance and dark secrets. This is actually the script for the film, and it is an enjoyable read. While Auster's novels plumb greater character depths and unleash more moving descriptive word currents, the dialog here is crisp and witty and very filmish. This could very well become an engaging film.