The Festival’s opening film is The Happy Prince – a powerful drama based on the story of Oscar Wilde’s final years, following his release from prison.

In a cheap Parisian hotel room Oscar lies on his death bed. The past floods back, taking him to other times and places. Was he once the most famous man in London? The artist crucified by a society that once worshipped him? Under the microscope of death he reviews the failed attempt to reconcile with his long suffering wife Constance, the ensuing reprisal of his fatal love affair with Lord Alfred Douglas and the warmth and devotion of Robbie Ross, who tried and failed to save him from himself. Travelling through Wilde’s own final Act, the film is a portrait of the dark side of a genius who lived and died for love in the last days of the nineteenth century.

The film is a tour de force achievement for Rupert Everett who wrote, directs and stars in it – along with Colin Firth, Emily Watson, Colin Morgan and Edwin Thomas.

Watch the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZknR603amI

“Everett does his celebrated subject full justice, presenting him compellingly not as a caricature, dispensing rapier one-liners all over the place, but as a sad, complex, brilliant, tragic, flawed man.”  Brian Viner, The Daily Mail

“Everett’s Wilde is an extraordinary achievement.” Nick Roddick, Evening Standard

“This is a moving and surprising biopic that squeezes out every last drop of pathos from its subject matter.”   Geoffrey Macnab, The Independent

The Happy Prince (Cert. 15 : 105 mins) is being screened at the War Memorial Hall, Common Road on Friday 8th March.  Doors and Bar open at 730 p.m.the programme begins at 8 p.m.  The film contains strong language, nudity, drug misuse and some subtitles.

Tickets are available from the Chorleywood Bookshop or online.

Chorleywood Film Festival is brought to you by Chorleywood Film Club and Chorleywood Bookshop and is sponsored by Ultimate Destinations – the village’s specialists in luxury travel and cruises.

If you’ve got a few minutes to spare, then sit back and look at the full Festival programme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=8&v=VDA1t9hm4Vk