It is safe to say that The Happy Prince was a pet passion project for Rupert Everett. The film was written, directed, and stars Everett in the lead role, and had so little support, that the decade-long mission to get funding had enough content to spawn its own documentary (see Rupert Everett: Born to be Wilde).
The film is a biographical story that follows the final years of Oscar Wilde's life following his release from prison where he had been sentenced to two years of hard labour, charged with homosexuality. The film starts on Wilde's deathbed and is set up in a non-linear fashion, jumping between multiple timelines through flashbacks. This montage of events does become quite complicated and can be confusing if the viewer is not fully invested in the story; especially as there really is no specific story arc.
The film follows a man's fall from grace; from celebrityhood to exile. This portrayal of Wilde is rather heavy and unflinching, with a strong focus on his homosexuality, and self-indulgent lifestyle at his own detriment. A single line of dialogue spoken by Everett's Wilde encapsulates what to expect from the film; "I am my own Judas". Not pulling any punches, The Happy Prince is a powerful film, that shows the near pendulous manner of Oscar Wilde's life swinging between rapturously mirthful moments and disease & despondence. Despite the content of the film being based in the late 1800s, there are still many parallels to modern day, such as how the public vilify celebrities.
Visually, the film is nicely shot, using real locations to minimise the presence of special effects, creating a genuine atmosphere. There are some scenes that feel shoehorned in for the sake of art and metaphor, with no real effect on the story, but otherwise, the film feels authentic. Camera shots are not overly steady, and the raw look to it fits well with the time.
With no real story arc and no redemption, this portrayal of Oscar Wilde's final days is a dark and dreary viewing. Very slow at times, the muddled non-linear format makes it difficult to get properly invested in the characters. Attempts are made to balance jovial moments with the heavier content, but overall the film is not something that lends itself to multiple viewings.
The film is a biographical story that follows the final years of Oscar Wilde's life following his release from prison where he had been sentenced to two years of hard labour, charged with homosexuality. The film starts on Wilde's deathbed and is set up in a non-linear fashion, jumping between multiple timelines through flashbacks. This montage of events does become quite complicated and can be confusing if the viewer is not fully invested in the story; especially as there really is no specific story arc.
The film follows a man's fall from grace; from celebrityhood to exile. This portrayal of Wilde is rather heavy and unflinching, with a strong focus on his homosexuality, and self-indulgent lifestyle at his own detriment. A single line of dialogue spoken by Everett's Wilde encapsulates what to expect from the film; "I am my own Judas". Not pulling any punches, The Happy Prince is a powerful film, that shows the near pendulous manner of Oscar Wilde's life swinging between rapturously mirthful moments and disease & despondence. Despite the content of the film being based in the late 1800s, there are still many parallels to modern day, such as how the public vilify celebrities.
Visually, the film is nicely shot, using real locations to minimise the presence of special effects, creating a genuine atmosphere. There are some scenes that feel shoehorned in for the sake of art and metaphor, with no real effect on the story, but otherwise, the film feels authentic. Camera shots are not overly steady, and the raw look to it fits well with the time.
With no real story arc and no redemption, this portrayal of Oscar Wilde's final days is a dark and dreary viewing. Very slow at times, the muddled non-linear format makes it difficult to get properly invested in the characters. Attempts are made to balance jovial moments with the heavier content, but overall the film is not something that lends itself to multiple viewings.