A Film Event That Took a Decade to Happen
Banned in Singapore for 11 years, audience in Singapore will see the award-winning performances of two of Britain's best actors in Wilde for the first time. The film has been passed with R21 (some homosexual content) rating.
Nominated Member of Parliament NMP Mr Siew Kum Hong will be the Guest-of-Honour at the gala premiere at Lido Theatre on 13 May.
In October 2007, NMP Siew gave a speech in Parliament to make an appeal for the law against homosexual acts (Section 377A) to be repealed. However, that courageous attempt to remove one of Singapore's last written code of prejudice against one of it's own communities was unsuccessful.
Today, Singapore remains one of a few developed countries in the world to continue to criminalise consensuous sexual behaviour between men — a law similar to the one that destroyed the great talent that Oscar Wilde was.
Meanwhile Singapore will move on, decidedly to "let others take the lead" and to "stay one step behind the frontline of change".
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Turn our backs on prejudice, discrimination, intolerance and hatred by Siew Kum Hong
Oscar Wilde: The Man and the Genius
The life story of playwright and poet Oscar Wilde, who is today widely celebrated as an artist persecuted for his homosexuality, is being told in the film Wilde.
Sentenced in 1895 to two years' imprisonment with hard labour for "gross indecency", Oscar Wilde's most productive period was cut short by this turn of events; he never wrote a play again. His genius, however, outlived his persecutors, and the freedom to be true to our sexual selves, as he resolutely believed by the end of his life, is now seen as a moral right. by Alex Au
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oscar wilde - the most celebrated victim of an anti-gay law by Alex Au
The Film and Cast
Stephen Fry (Peter's Friends) received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor for his portrayal of Oscar Wilde in this film, and was the winner of the Best Actor Golden Space Needle Award at the Seattle International Film Festival.
Jude Law (Sleuth, Closer, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, Bent) was named Most Promising Newcomer and the film was recognised for Best Technical/Artistic Achievement in the Evening Standard British Film Awards in 1998.
Directed by Brian Gilbert (Tom & Viv) and with a brilliant cast which includes Vanessa Redgrave, Jennifer Ehle, Gemma Jones, Michael Sheen and Tom Wilkinson, the film also received numerous nominations, among them the Human Rights PFS award from the Political Film Society USA, GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) Media Award Outstanding Film, Golden Hitchcock award at the Dinard British Film Festival, and the Golden Satellite Award and Chlotrudis Awards Best Actor.
Selected Film Review
Literary genius, legendary wit, bon vivant, and gay martyr, Oscar Wilde was a man whose legend has grown to iconic proportions since his death at the beginning of the 20th century. Establishing Wilde (Stephen Fry) as a loving family man, complete with a wife (Jennifer Ehle) and two adorable sons, the film takes pains to portray him as a dignified genius who was as pained by what he considered his own sin — his homosexuality — as he was delighted by the sins of others.
From his initial encounters with Robbie Ross (Michael Sheen), his first male lover, through his tragic affair with the beautiful and bratty Alfred Lord Douglas (a perfectly cast Jude Law), Wilde is seen as a conflicted fellow, warring with his own urges even as he dazzles everyone around him.
review by Rebecca Flint Marx in All Movie Guide
About Indignation
Indignation serves to keep the issue of gay (in)equality on the agenda. Without a concentrated gay pride season, it is very easy for the gay cause to disappear beneath other news events. At the same time, Indignation addresses the issue in people-friendly ways — through forums, exhibitions and very accessible social events, the aim being to raise awareness and to build a sense of community. I hope people see this as something worth supporting.
Alex Au, gay activist and Indignation spokemanFridae is pleased to continue to support Indignation since its inception in 2005. Throughout history, and continuing today, gays and lesbians struggle to fulfill their full potential because of societal stigma and discrimination. We hope that this movie will continue a dialog on gay issues, and allow the wider society a chance to understand them.
Dr Stuart Koe, CEO, Fridae
Related articles
Indignation 2007
Indignation 2006:1
Indignation 2006:2
Indignation 2005
Related Links
Watch trailer
(click to play)
Event website
http://www.fridae.com/wilde/Online booking
Fridae Shop
Shaw OnlineFilm official website
http://www.oscarwilde.com/Indignation official website
http://www.plu.sg/indignation/
Ticketing and Donations to Indignation
Book Online at Fridae Shop
Book Online at Shaw Online
Buy Tickets at Shaw LidoTickets available at the door from 7.30 pm before the screening.
VIP Tickets include pre-show reception, goodies bags and premium seats.
Standard Tickets include entry to premiere screening.
You may also make cash donation to support Indignation 2008 in multiples of US$20 on Fridae Shop.
All tickets purchased on Fridae Shop will be allocated the best seat available at the time of purchase. Upon purchase. please print out the confirmation email from Fridae Shop, and collect tickets at the theatre entrance from 8 pm on the day of event. Personal identification should be produced for verification.
You may also purchase tickets (S$20 standard) at the Shaw Lido Box Office from 1 May (cash and credit card).
All net proceeds from this event will be used to support Indignation 2008.
Audience to the screening must be above the age of 21. The cinema reserves the right at their discretion to refuse entry to anyone found unsuitable for attending the screening. Patrons are advise to produce appropriate personal identification for age verification.
All proceeds shall be used to support the events in Indignation 2008, to be held in August 2008 in Singapore. Your generosity and kind support will be greatly appreciated.
For enquiries about this event, please contact promo@fridae.com
more reports:
wilde fundraiser on may 13 to benefit singapore gay pride festival
oscar wilde - the most celebrated victim of an anti-gay law
