2018-04-12
N/A
101 min
In 1895, Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) was the most famous writer in London, and Bosie Douglas, son of the notorious Marquess of Queensberry, was his lover. Accused and convicted of gross indecency, he was imprisoned for two years and subjected to hard labor. Once free, he abandons England to live in France, where he will spend his last years, haunted by memories of the past, poverty and immense sadness.
It is odd how many gents convicted of some form of sexual "deviance" in the 19th century ended their days in penury in rural France. This film looks at the last few years of one of the most famous, and successful - and Rupert Everett directs his own portrayal of Oscar Wilde like a natural. Emily Watson and Colin's Firth and Morgan lend a capable hand as this tale of his decline both morally and physically takes shape. It's beautifully shot, and has a steady narrative that illuminates his absinthe-fuelled demise sensitively, but not especially sentimentally. He was only 46 when he died of meningitis, but this film gives quite a lot of insight into what he packed into this relatively brief lifespan!
