The Happy Prince, written, directed and performed by Rupert Everett - 7 out of 10

The Happy Prince, written, directed and performed by Rupert Everett
7 out of 10


Rupert Everett tries to win a triple crown as director, writer and leading actor in this biographical drama that place at center stage the larger than life figure of the genius Oscar Wilde.

I am not sure if this is a success.
Indeed, I rather think Wilde with Stephen Fry in the title role is much better.

Oscar Wilde seems to have been a flamboyant, glorious, outlandish, at times preposterous, genius, eccentric and tragic figure.
The film mentions the tens of thousands of homosexual men that have been granted a pardon in this century, after being prosecuted, humiliated and punished in the past.

Oscar Wilde is among those absolved of what was a crime in the past, but his ordeal, the abject humiliation inflicted upon him is evident in the film.
He has had a conflict with the family of his lover that alas has resulted in the author being accused, judged and then sentenced to two years hard labor for his sexual orientation.

The scene that takes place while he waits for the train, under guard, in convict's attire, is insisted upon in the film.
Someone in the crowd of mean, abusive, uneducated, repulsive people recognizes the once celebrated, famous, popular writer and they all start to slander, spit on him and overall give hi one of the worst experiences in his life.

One that he will refer to, remember in the last days of his life.
After the ghoulish time spent in jail, he has friends that try to help him, Robbie Ross especially and Reggie Turner aka Colin Firth, who gives the performance we are used with, solid, splendid, restrained, excellent.

In France, where Oscar Wilde tries to find peace under another name, he is insulted, threatened and ultimately chased through the streets, in the company of Reggie and Robbie.
They think they are safe within a church, but the thugs do not stop until they are confronted by an angered, desperate Wilde.

After all, the leader of the pack of hungry wolves had just told a waiter to:

" take this shit off the pavement" referring to the author of The Happy Prince.

Another phenomenal actor that is involved in this rather disappointing production is Tom Wilkinson, albeit in a minor role, that of the priest summoned to give the last rites to the author.
Oscar Wilde was supposed to be raised as a Catholic, although seeing as he would belong to the gay community, Catholicism and his orientation would be incompatible.

Even at the grave of the now departed genius, there is a conflict.
Lord Alfred Douglas has a fight with Robbie Ross.

The latter has been always devoted to Oscar Wilde, while the former has caused so much pain and suffering...one could say that he was at least part of the reason why Oscar Wilde fell so dramatically from the zenith of popularity, success and admiration to a terrible end.

Rupert Everett the director should have chosen another leading man for this drama.
I think the astounding character of Oscar Wilde would have been better acted by someone else, Colin Firth surely, but he is not the only one.

The hero we see in this motion picture is not pleasant, admirable, on the contrary he seems to have a grimace on his face for most of the time...a sour, bitter, destitute man.
Granted, after all that happened to him, it makes sense, the amazing writer was exhausted, unhappy and venomous...

The Happy Prince feels like a failed exercise nevertheless.