01/08/2002 - The inaugural film of the 55th Locarno Festival, directed by Oliver Parker, could have been written with Everett in mind

LOCARNO - Oscar Wilde’s deliciously light and witty comedy swept the dark rain clouds away on the inaugural evening of the 55th edition of Switzerland’s pre-eminent film event that will run August 1-11. Oliver Parker The Importance of Being Earnest contains some of the Irish writer’s most famous “bon mots” and his artfully couched sarcastic take on the British “upper classes”. This is also Rupert Everett’s second Wildean film after the worldwide hit that was An Ideal Husband (three BAFTAs and two Golden Globe nominations) and keeping to a winning formula, Earnest was also co-produced by British and American (Miramax) money.
This frothy comedy examines the mores and hypocrisy surrounding the issue and pits the importance of marriage for social status against marrying for love alone. It’s a classic comedy of errors based on a series of false identities and unexpected recognition, and could well have been written with Rupert Everett in mind. He is the epitome of a spoilt, upper-class and exquisitely snobbish Brit and his fellow cast members include Colin Firth (Hugh Grant’s rival for Bridget Jones’ favours and Judy Dench. Parker found the other two leading ladies “across the Pond”: America’s Reese Witherspoon and Australia’s Frances O’Connor even though neither quite manages to speak the “Queen’s English”. “Making Wilde contemporary and surprising means removing all that is pompous and unreal from the dialogue and ensuring that it bursts forth spontaneously,” explains the director adding that he drew inspiration from jazz and American screwball comedies to rejuvenate the story. (He also took the liberty of adding a new scene where a the lovers have each other's names tatooed on their bottoms).
Audiences best remember Parker for his magnificent Othello starring Lawrence Fishburne although he seems now to have specialised in adapting literary classics, especially those of Oscar Wilde. His next screenwriting project will indeed be The Portrait of Dorian Grey although this is one film Parker won't be directing.

(Translated from Italian)