—Watch it Live—
The 2018 Sundance Film Festival gets underway today, January 18th, and making its world premiere is The Happy Prince written and directed by Rupert Everett.
It is the story of the last days of Oscar Wilde—and the ghosts haunting them brought to vivid life. His body ailing, Wilde lives in exile, surviving on the flamboyant irony and brilliant wit that defined him as the transience of lust is laid bare and the true riches of love are revealed. Or so it says here.
The film features Rupert Everett as Wilde and Emily Watson as Constance, along with Colin Firth, Colin Morgan, and Edwin Thomas.
Of course, you can’t get to Utah to watch it, but—so they say—it will stream live and free. Here’s how to watch it.
WHERE:
On the Sundance YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/sff
WHEN:
Not sure, but it’s live so here are the screening times at Sundance:
https://www.sundance.org/projects/the-happy-prince
The Happy Prince is one of Oscar Wilde’s fairy tales, so it might seem odd (not to mention confusing for the kids) to use it as the title for a bio-pic of “transient lust.” But I’m sure the producers know what they’re doing: his demise probably has elements of the tale to it. But whether it does or not—if you know either story—there’s bound to be tears.
While you’re waiting to watch the movie, read the fairy tale again.
And what better edition to read than the personally inscribed copy Wilde gave to Harry Melvill the year it was published (after one his flings). Appropriately for Sundance, Melvill’s copy is scanned from Utah’s Brigham Young University rare book collection, and digitized here:
The Happy Prince
And remember, as far as I’m concerned, the swallow’s ladylove, the beautiful and domesticated Reed of whom he tires, represents Constance…
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