The Picture of Dorian Gray

Is it possible to combine The Picture of Dorian Gray, Great Expectations, and Macbeth? Clearly yes, and the result is a film of impressive emotional depth and creativity. Wilde's story may seem timeless, but Dorian's depravity, rather sketchy in the novel, can be difficult to convey to modern audiences. Through the device of making the main characters female, and with the benefit of at once lush and moody cinematography, the illicit romance of Dorian for a younger woman works well here, all the better for being almost entirely implied (there's a single kiss). The film transcends its low budget limitations; though filmed in Italy, there are few exterior shots, but one hardly notices. Leone Kessel and Lizzie Willis give convincing performances with real chemistry, and Kessel nails Dorian Gray's combination of bitter cynicism and seductive romanticism with a performance that never entirely loses the viewer's sympathy. The horror aspect of the infamous picture representing Dorian's corrupted and corrupting soul is suggested but not overdone. The narrator turns out to be Rula Lenska, though I feel her narration sometimes makes explicit what would be better left implicit. A few Wildean touches such as blue china and copious cocktails help set the decadent mood. Overall, this subtle but emotional adaptation represents independent filmmaking at its best.

This independent movie is not just based on the story written by Oscar Wilde, must part of the plot is based on the story Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. It's an interesting mixture between two of the most famous masterpieces of literature. They are built into one love story that works out very well. It's very solid, and the story follows a straight line. The romance between the two girls is well done, and it can feel the chemistry between, even without one single kiss in the entire film. The female version of Dorian Gray turns out to be a very good mixture between the original Dorian Gray and Estella from Great Expectations. They were very subtle developing the romance without too much to show. It has a fascinating ending, although the final moral has some contradictions. This version of The Picture Of Dorian Gray turns out to be a neat film that updates accurately two great classics to current times. My final rating for this film is an 8/10.

It's very well written and it's lovely to watch but at the end of the day it's about a 15 year old being seduced by an older person to get what they want.

In a world where kiddy loving is (rightly) being called out, this is exactly the kind of thing we don't need.

Unless of course you see kiddy loving the way that Wilde saw homosexuality back in the day. Back in the day his book was censored for containing gay content.

So if you like this then you think being a child lover will be seen as the same in a hundred or so years time as being gay back then.

Like it's source content it is controversial. Just can't see how anyone can say this is bad when back in the day the original wasn't.

Hard to watch but perhaps a tale to say we aren't any "better" or "worse" than those who came before us.....