Queer Subjects at Sundance
Queer subjects have been another common theme at Sundance, not just this year but it is especially important with new political discourse. Two period dramas premiered this year that focused on queer characters, Colette (2018) and The Happy Prince (2018).
http://www.indiewire.com/2018/01/colette-review-wash-westmoreland-keira-knightley-sundance-2018-1201920313/
http://www.justjared.com/2018/01/22/keira-knightley-dominic-west-premiere-colette-at-sundance-film-fest-2018/
A vividly sensual film that follows one of France’s most notable female writers, Colette, played by Keira Knightley. Colette tells her story of moving from the country to Paris, the strenuous marriage, and fluid sexuality. It takes place roughly between 1890 and 1910 and the way her sexuality is accepted in the film was fairly shocking. Her husband was fine with Colette sleeping with women but not men, as usual with men who don’t take lesbian relations seriously. The representation of a trans man was the most intriguing, Missy (Denise Gough) was viewed as disgusting, but accepted because of his background as aristocracy. The repercussions of Colette’s feminist actions seemed fairly light for the time, but the film was beautifully sculpted. I also found the film to focus largely on white women, where as long as you were a feminine white woman you were fine, but the only people of color in the film had minimal speaking parts and were low class workers. I think it would have been an interesting addition to the film if there was commentary on this displacement at the time.
http://www.zimbio.com/photos/Weish/2018+Sundance+Film+Festival+Happy+Prince+Premiere/cVj2r2GOrO_
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2404639/mediaviewer/rm1024993280
The Happy Prince tells the story of Oscar Wilde (Rupert Everett) during his last three year and his death. He died in 1900 and it starts when he is released from prison for homosexuality. In comparing the reception of sexuality with Colette there is a much worse reaction from London. In the discussion after the film Edwin Thomas, who plays Robbie, talked about how at the time being homosexual was similar to being a pedophile now. The film tugs at the heartstrings of any Wilde fan, though if you do not know much about him then the film might not be as impactful. One of the most historically accurate in regards to plot and events, the film depicts a time of his life not commonly portrayed in films about Wilde. At the end it tells the viewer that Wilde and thousands of others charged and imprisoned for homosexuality were not freed of the record until 2017. The film moves back and forth through time like memory tends to, weaving and interconnecting beautifully with a focus on showing who Oscar Wilde was as an individual. The film does not glorify or persecute him, it shows his flaws but also how many people loved him regardless. A truly remarkable retelling of a remarkable human.
Kiera Standard Eckerd College Film studies major class of ‘18