WILDE

UK, 1997, 115 minutes, Colour.
Stephen Fry, Jude Law, Vanessa Redgrave, Jennifer Ehle, Tom Wilkinson, Gemma Jones, Judy Parfitt, Zoe Wanamaker.
Directed by Brian Gilbert.

Oscar Wilde has had his plays continually performed. He is celebrated for his wit. However, he died in Paris, his reputation in tatters in 1900, the cause his trial for homosexual behaviour and the attack by the Marquis of Queensberry because of his liaison with his son, Bosie.

In Wilde, his life and career are now looked at from the point of view of the 1990s in a screenplay by Julian Mitchell, directed by Brian Gilbert who made the recent biography of T.S.Eliot, Tom and Viv. They are served by excellent performances by Stephen Fry as Wilde, perfectly believable as Wilde, Jude Law as Bosie and Tom Wilkinson as the Marquis.

It is one of those recreations of period that the British do so well, a touch languid, reflecting Wilde's rather leisurely and elitist world. It also has a fine supporting cast led by Vanessa Redgrave as Wilde's mother.

Since Wilde was the first public figure to be 'outed' (using contemporary jargon), we compare the attitudes of the 1890s and those of the 1990s, the issues of tolerance as well as issues of nature and morality.

The film puts a face on the issues rather than its being an abstract discussion, a challenge to audience sensibilities and sensitivities to appreciate personal struggles of individuals on the margins.

1.Audience knowledge of and appreciation of Wilde? Artist? Personality and personal life? Tragedy?

2.The previous films made about Wilde and their treatment of him? His plays? The Picture of Dorian Gray? The Ballad of Reading Jail and De Profundis? The quotations from and references to these works in the film?

3.Changing audience perceptions over the century since Wilde's death? Audience attitudes to his life, his homosexuality, The trial and his imprisonment? Audience judgments about him?

4.The 19th century, Wilde as a victim of moral issues, moral hypocrisies in Britain? The changing 20th century attitude towards homosexuality? The 1990s interpretation of a century earlier?

5.The screenplay and its understanding of Wilde, his morality, his offences, compassion towards him? The discussions about homosexuality: nature, orientation, emotions, behaviour, relationships, lust, `the love that dare not speak its name'? The background of Plato and the Greeks? The master and his disciples? Aesthetics and human relationships, platonic relationships, carnal relationships? The finale?

6.The re-creation of the 19th century, the opening in Colorado, London and London society, the arts, theatre, clubs, restaurants, brothels? The homes, Oxford? The countryside, the coast? Costumes and decor?

7.The languid style of the filming representing the atmosphere of the 1890s? Creating a portrait of Wilde, the genteel and aesthetic style? The musical score?

8.The prologue, Wilde in the United States, his being a celebrity, his talks, with the miners, the background of the lecture, going down into the mine, his witticisms, his response to the male miners, the discussions about Cellini and his genius, his violence, his amorality?

9.London society, his being feted, on his return from America? The women in his life, friends, the dominance of his mother, Ada as a constant support and adviser? The meeting with Constance? Society discussions about his marriage, the expectations? His marriage to Constance, love for her, the children?

10.Robbie Ross and his friendship, his sharing the life of the family, at walks, at home? His seduction of Wilde and its effect? Wilde and his statements about a new understanding of himself, a learning of freedom? Constance and the betrayal of the family and the children? Wilde and the beginning of his double life, a double emotional life? The art gallery, the encounter with John Gray, being smitten with him, the friendship and sexual encounters? The background of the Portrait of Dorian Gray - the aesthetics, the truth, hypocrisy? Constance and Wilde's mother and the discussion about the impact of Dorian Gray and society's wariness of them?

11.The plays, the success of Lady Windermere's Fan? Public response? The contrast with Wilde's domestic life, companionship with Constance - though her consciousness that she could not respond sexually as expected, her blaming herself? The children and their response to their father, missing him? The giant story and Wilde telling it in phases throughout the film? Taking the children paddling, fishing? His love and absences?

12.Constance and her love for her husband, the Victorian era and expectations, her devotion to her children, blaming herself for her neglect of Wilde? The nanny, the children, Robbie and his friendship in the house? Her later illness, the bad back? The gradual revelation of the truth, her ability to accept it or not, her blaming herself? The separation, her taking the children? Her visit to him in the jail, his asking her forgiveness? Her premature death?

13.The aftermath of the play, his being introduced to Bosey, his immediately being smitten, their constant companionship, talk, restaurants, being seen in public, love and support, sexual relationship? At Oxford? Their living with each other, Wilde writing his plays, inspiration from Bosey, distraction from his work? The effect of Bosey's continued tantrums? His talk about his father? Bosey taking Wilde to Taylor's, the effect on him as he watched the men, curiosity, disgust, aesthetic repugnance, sexual fascination? Giving the cigarette case to the young man? His discussion with Taylor and the analogy of the exotic flowers?

14.The effect of Bosey on Wilde? Infatuation and love, living together? Meals in public, signs of affection? Bosey's neglect and tantrums and their psychological effect on Wilde? Yet his being creative while Bosey was away? The comment that Wilde was too kind in excusing Bosey's behaviour - that he could not love or receive love?

15.The portrait of Bosey: his age, background, the intolerance of his father, wealth, his mother and her doting on him? His brother and his father's concern about Lord Rosebery and homosexuality? His brother's engagement, suicide? The father sex-obsessed and the repercussions on Bosey? His being spoilt, at Oxford, infatuated with Wilde, the younger man with the older? Yet his tantrums, angers? Leaving Wilde, going to Egypt? Yet his always returning? Wilde and his illness and needing the drink of water - and Bosey refusing? His love - or not - for Wilde? His taking Wilde to the Renters, the distinction between sex and love? His capacity for truth and lies?

16.The Marquis of Queensberry and his reputation, the regulations for boxing, his work with his horses? His wives? His harsh treatment of people? His strong views and seeing himself as eccentric? The obsession with sex, with homosexuality and his two sons? The meeting with Wilde, the ideas and attitudes discussed, shared perspectives? Being charmed by Wilde? The discussions about religion, church, cremation - and his poetry? His severity towards Bosey, talking the morning after and yet forbidding him to have contact with Wilde? His growing angers, spreading the rumours? The rubbish bouquet? The police and their moving him on from the theatre with his lawyer? The card and the libel? His going to the hotel - his presence in the court? His ultimate victory?

17.Wilde and the performance of The Importance of Being Earnest, his coming on stage, the toast of London society? Reputation, achievement, all that he wished for? Yet his going willingly to his downfall? His being hurt by the Marquis of Queensberry, the card, the libel issue? The decision, his love for Bosey and wanting to protect him from his father? Robbie's advice not to pursue the case? His discussions with his mother - and her defiant attitude? The discussions with the lawyer and his lying? Carson and the prosecution - in the court, his wit, his explanation of his behaviour, Taylor in the box, the Renters and their testimony, his explanation of platonic love and the love that dare not speak its name? The guilty decision, the reaction of the judge? The arrest, his being with Robbie? The street arabs and their trying to sell the letters? His going into court, the witness of Taylor and the prostitutes? The judge and the severity of his condemnation for indecency? The background of English homosexuals having to leave for the Continent? Robbie Ross and his going through the documents to save Wilde?

18.His being condemned to prison, his being jeered by the public and spat on? Robbie Ross raising his hat to him? The scenes of prison, the hard labour, the treadmill? The masks worn in yard recreation? The difficulties of his writing? The cold and isolation? The cutlery and the plates and keeping them meticulously tidy? His hair and his appearance? His coming out, his thanks to the wardens, Ada visiting him and taking him home?

19.The impact of the visit of Constance in jail? The frank talk? His asking forgiveness? Seeing his children, the condition of not seeing Bosey? Visiting Constance's grave? The loss of his children?

20.His going to Italy, seeing Bosey in the distance, his love for him? The De Profundis as an expression of his experience? The postscript about his separating from Bosey, his death?

21.The women who supported him, especially Ada, her knowing the truth about him, her concern and support?

22.Robbie Ross, his place in the family, the seduction, his discussions with Gray and Bosey, his observation of Wilde being smitten, in love? His becoming a Catholic, his comments about confession? His support of Wilde at the dark times, saving him from his documentation?

23.Gray and his artistry, relationship with Wilde, continued friendship though jealousy? The Oxford group and Bosey? Taylor and his background, his brothel, the Renters, their characters, their work, the attempts to blackmail Wilde for his letters - and Wilde's urbane response?

24.19th century English society, theatre audiences? Values, hypocrisy, appearances?

25.Bosey and history's judgment on him? Character, the genuine love or not of Wilde? Vengeance on his father? Spoilt man? His poetry, publication? His death in 1945?

26.The film's appreciation of Wilde, his wit and career, achievement? 19th century aestheticism? The film's insight into Wilde as a person, issues of sexuality? His ultimate tragedy?