FAQ

Miracle at St. Anna is also a 2003 novel written by American writer and musician James McBride.

Those who have both read the book and the script say that several themes in the book have been enhanced for the movie. The supernatural aspect has been muted somewhat, but the religious Christian aspect has been made more pointed for characters on all sides—Bufflo Soldiers, Italians and Germans. Other details were also changed. For example, Hector didn't earn a purple heart but a silver star. Rudolfo recognizes the fact that he's going to get shot and doesn't seem to have come to terms with it. (In the book, he doesn't realize until the last second what's happening and is a little more OK with his fate.) Hector barely ever looks at who comes up to the window. In the book, he looks, notices a flashy ring, and then looks to see whose face it is. (This is important to the story because it is this small detail that makes the viewer/reader realize that the Black Butterfly has exacted his revenge from beyond the grave.) The movie's script seems to draw out a sex scene that was only referenced in the book.