The
Importance of Being Earnest, based on the 1895 play
by Oscar Wilde, has been brought to the screen by director
Oliver Parker. The movie follows the story, though with a
few changes. Three love affairs blossom, run afoul of social
mores of the era, and ultimately are consummated. Wilde was
trying to make fun of the mores, many of which involved social
class prejudice and the presumed subordination of very independent-minded
women. Toward the end, revelations emerge about the true identity
of one of the characters, thus serving to break down the class
barrier. The wit, of course, is perhaps the main reason for
filmviewers to revisit Oscar Wilde, but the words are uttered
so casually by most of the cast that the crisp dialog of Lady
Bracknell (played by Dame Judi Dench) provides most of the
laughter. But of course the celebrated actress had long ago
honed her role to perfection, having received a variety of
honors for her performance in the play for the National Theatre
Productions during 1982. MH
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