Wilde – 1997 | 118 mins | Drama | Colour

Plot Synopsis

Based on the book by Richard Ellmann, director Brian Gilbert’s poignant biopic of author and acclaimed wit Oscar Wilde charts the events leading to the sensational trial which spelled his spectacular downfall, vividly highlighting the brutal homophobia of the Victorian legal system. Stephen Fry is perfectly cast as the celebrated writer and Tom Wilkinson plays the stern face of the establishment, the Marquess of Queensberry, whom Wilde misguidedly sued for libel. The supporting players include Jude Law, Vanessa Redgrave, Zoë Wanamaker and Jennifer Ehle. Eagle-eyed viewers should watch out for a fleeting appearance by Orlando Bloom, making his feature-film debut as a rent boy. The only flaw in Brian Gilbert’s Wilde is that it’s too reverential towards its colourful subject, ultimately creating a lifeless film that leaves the viewer yearning to learn more of the fêted playwright.

In 1883, Irish-born Oscar Wilde (Stephen Fry) returned to London from a tour of America, full of talent, passion and most of all, full of himself. A few years later Wilde’s wit, flamboyance and creative genius were widely renowned and he and his wife Constance (Jennifer Ehle) have two sons whom they both loved and adored. However, Wilde, a devoted husband and kind father also happened to be attracted to men – in particular to the spoilt young aristocrat Lord Alfred ‘Bosie’ Douglas (Jude Law) at a time when homosexual liaisons were illegal. Their relationship outraged Bosie’s brutish father, the maniacal Marquess of Queensberry (Tom Wilkinson), who brought scandalous sodomy charges against Wilde. Refusing to flee the country when his relationship was uncovered, Wilde endured two years of hard labour after being sentenced by an intolerant Victorian court.