This one's a beautiful, tender, quiet romantic drama with a moody atmosphere, set in a tight knit Welsh fishing community. It's a touching story about a man waking up sexually in the middle of his life, and how he, his family, and everyone around him deal with it, which makes it emotional and sentimental without ever getting over the top. The slow burn plays out against a landscape that's as bleak as it is gorgeous, where quiet, closed off men are stuck inside rigid ideas of what masculinity should be. Some people might be reminded of "God's Own Country," but I think both films are lovely in their own way. Jack is a middle aged guy who co-owns a mussel farm with his rough around the edges brother Dyfan, and the tension between the two of them is simmering under the surface right from the start. Dyfan's three sons all help out with the work, while Jack's sulky teenage son Tom keeps skipping out. Jack's been with his wife since they were both 16, and...
The film starts with Wilde's return from his trip to US. Soon he gets married to Constance and they have two sons in quick succession. While their second child is still an infant, the couple hosts a young Canadian named Robbie Ross who seduces Wilde and helps him come to terms with his homosexuality. And soon after Oscar meets Lord Alfred also known as Bosie, played by Jude Law, and is immediately drawn towards him. The two fall into a passionate and tempestuous relationship. Sadly, Bosie doesn't believe in monogamy and constantly engages in sexual activities with other boys including rent boys. During all this time, his friend Robbie is always by his side, but Wilde is madly in love with Bosie despite his erratic behavior and disrespect to Wilde. Bosie's father, the Marquess of Queensberry, objects to his son's relationship with Wilde and demeans the playwright and eventually publicly exposes his homosexuality. Wilde is tried for gross indecency and sent to prison for 2 years and hard labour. His wife leaves him and moves to Germany for their kids sake. Wilde is released from prison and goes straight into exile to continental Europe.
I think when it came out, this film would have been a honest depiction of Oscar Wilde's life. A man torn between love for family, something accepted by society vs love for a man, something that eventually leads him to prison. We see his charm and conviction when creating his plays or amusing friends, we also see his weaker side and why he was the cause of his own eventual arrest and imprisonment. In contrast, Bosie or Lord Alfred's character. is a bit volatile. Jude Law, my once upon a time favourite actor, who plays Bosie, plays his part almost to perfection. He could be needy and tender, but he could also be a first-class ass and manipulator with an explosive temper. And that makes you question why would Wilde go for someone like him and not for a more suited man like Robbie. I mean eventually he says in the court that its all about youth. The acting, direction and everything is quite commendable and deserves a viewing.
A solid biopic, with fine performances. Watching this has expanded my appreciation for Wilde as a writer and as a person. I just wish that this was not an almost 2 hour film. (7/10)
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