In the American film “Field of Dreams” (1989), Shoeless Joe Jackson, who died in 1951, appears as “ a ghost” in the present world. The real Jackson was a right-handed thrower and left-handed batter, but in this film, he is played as the exact opposite, a left-handed thrower and right-handed batter. Many baseball fans and major league aficionados have criticized and been disappointed by this exact opposite, calling it a "mistake", but I am impressed by this exact opposite, as a wonderful adaptation and direction that reflects the fantasy nature (ghostly nature?) of the original novel. Of course, there is a proper reason and justification for this.
In the masterpiece novel on which this film is based, “Shoeless Joe” by W.P. Kinsella , the most detailed depiction of Jackson's defense is the scene where he catches a fly ball in left field: "Shoeless Joe drifts effortlessly a few steps to his left, raises his right hand to signal for the ball, camps under it for a second or two, catches it, at the same time transferring it to his throwing hand, and fires it to the infield”. Does this make it clear whether he is a right-handed or left-handed thrower? It's not clear, is it? Isn't it normal to think that the author did this intentionally?
Next, Jackson's batting in the original novel. There is a scene where he hits, but it doesn't say whether he is hitting from the left or right side. This also seems to me to be intentional. However, when it is written which direction Jackson's hits went, they are always flying to the left side, and there is even a description like this: ”the ball was hit over the left-field fence of my stadium, clubbed by Shoeless Joe off a ghostly relief pitcher during an extra-inning game, a blue darter of a line drive that thudded into the stands a few seats from Karin and me”. So, even though it doesn't say whether he is a right-handed or left-handed hitter, it would be normal to think that there is an intention to imply that he is a right-handed hitter, which is the opposite of the real thing.
I think that the movie beautifully expresses the fantasy nature of the original novel. Unlike text, the images need to be clearly defined as either left or right, so they are completely opposite.
Incidentally, in addition to Jackson, the film features several other dead major leaguers, the most important of which is a player named Moonlight Graham. The real one was a right-handed thrower and left-handed batter. In the novel there is a scene where he himself says “ I throw right". But it is not stated whether he actually played as a right-handed or left-handed thrower. There is a scene where he is at bat and hits, but it is not clear whether he is a right-handed or left-handed batter. It seems that this is done intentionally. How is the acting in the film? There is no scene where Graham throws, and there is a scene where he hits the ball as a right-handed batter, which is the opposite of the real one.
I think that all of the adaptations and direction are consistent with the original novel, and the fantasy nature (ghostly nature?) of the original novel is beautifully expressed.
( If I’ve made a mistake or left out something important, please let me know. I’ll try to make corrections or additions.)