The Happy Prince (UK)

We have seen a few film on Oscar Wilde, but this films focusses on the latter part of his life and the his tragic final days. The film's title alludes to the children's story by Oscar Wilde, The Happy Prince and Other Tales, which Wilde would read aloud to his children. The film shows aspects that at least I wasn't aware of. However, the film shows events in a non-chronological order which means you have to focus really hard to keep up on whats happening.

The film focuses on post 1895 when Wilde was convicted for 2 years for “gross indecency with men.” because of his indiscreet affair with Lord Alfred “Bosie” Douglas. Once out of the prison, His friends re surprised to find that he has resumed his affair with Bosie, which leads to both his allowance from his wife and Bosie's allowance to get cutt off, leaving them with nothing. This is when Bosie leaves Wilde. This is the time when Oscar neglected his faithful friends Robbie and Reggie when Robbie was actually in love with Oscar. Wilde now has befriended a young Paris rent boy and his young brother and spends most of his time with them. Now his times are spent on death bed, with able support from Robbie and Reggie while his ex-lover Bosie completely ignores him when he needs financial help. The ending is sombre and heartbreaking with his death.

Skipping back and forth across his exile period, this film actually shows us a kind of rough love triangle between Wilde, manipulative Bosie and Robbie, Wilde’s more tenderly devoted literary executor. And this triangle alternately intensifies and dissipates across years and European borders. Apparently the film may not have been based on absolute true facts. Were his final days really that bad and his exile really like the one shown, but the film actually does a good job of paying a tribute to Oscar Wilde. Rupert Everett is amazing in the titular role and he puts all his worth in a role and does an absolutely marvelous job. I am not sure why Robbie would always standby Oscar but people do strange things when it comes to love. All the other actors have also done a great job. There are a quite a few suggestive gay scenes but nowhere there is unwanted nudity which keeps the film's possibility to be seen beyond just gay audience. I am not sure I know enough about Oscar Wilde, but my one issue with the film is I felt he was shown more as a total alcoholic loser, rather bitchy and quite selfish. The film is never less than interesting and often fascinates.

I would recommend to watch this film for the incredible acting and also getting to know what Wilde's final years post exile were like. Having said that, its non-linear format is not everyone's cup of tea. (6.5/10)