Brideshead Revisited (film)

Infobox Film
name = Brideshead Revisited


imagesize =
caption = Theatrical release poster
director = Julian Jarrold
producer =
writer = Evelyn Waugh
Jeremy Brock
Andrew Davies
starring = Emma Thompson
Matthew Goode
Ben Whishaw
Hayley Atwell
Michael Gambon
music = Adrian Johnston
cinematography = Jess Hall
editing = Chris Gill
distributor = Warner Independent
Miramax Films
Recorded Picture
released = United Kingdom:
October 3, 2008
United States:
July 25, 2008
runtime = 133 min.
country = United Kingdom
language = English
budget = £20 million
gross =
preceded_by =
website = http://bridesheadrevisited-themovie.com
amg_id = 1:387894
imdb_id = 0412536

"Brideshead Revisited" is a 2008 dramatic film adaptation of the 1945 Evelyn Waugh novel of the same name, directed by Julian Jarrold.

This film version focuses on forbidden love and the loss of innocence.

Plot

In the pre-WWII era in the UK, Charles Ryder (Matthew Goode) starts to study history in Oxford, though his real wish is to become an artist. He befriends Lord Sebastian Flyte (Ben Whishaw), a homosexual and alcoholic and, like Ryder, an atheist. Both proclivities are disapproved of by the noble Marchmain family to which Sebastian belongs. Ryder (Matthew Goode) becomes entranced by the family and their large and beautiful estate, Brideshead, in spite of the strict Catholicism of Lady Marchmain (Emma Thompson) and her other children, particularly the eldest son 'Bridie'.

Sebastian's father, Lord Marchmain (Michael Gambon), invites him, his sister Julia (Hayley Atwell) and Ryder to visit him and his mistress in Venice. Ryder becomes increasingly interested in Julia. When the family visit a carnival, Sebastian is shocked when he sees them kissing, wanting Ryder for himself, and ends their friendship. On their return to England Lady Marchmain tells Ryder he cannot marry her daughter since he is an atheist.

Sebastian's allowance is rescinded by his mother, who is concerned about his alcoholism. On one visit to Brideshead, Ryder gives Sebastian money with which he buys alcohol. He appears drunk at a ball to celebrate Julia's engagement to Canadian Rex Mottram. Lady Marchmain is angry with Ryder and tells him he is no longer welcome at Brideshead.

Sebastian flees to Morocco, where he lives happily in near poverty. Lady Marchmain, now terminally ill, asks Ryder to go to Morocco to bring him back, but Ryder finds he is unwell and cannot travel.

Years later, Ryder, now married and a successful painter, meets Julia on a cruise liner returning from South America. They realise they are still in love, and decide to leave their partners and live together in Italy.

Ryder returns to brideshead, and persuades Julia's husband to end their marraige, so she can live with him. As they are leaving Brideshead however, Julia's terminally ill father, Lord Marchmain, arrives, wanting to spend his last days in his old home. During this time he regains his faith and dies a devout catholic. Julia decides she cannot give up her old life and her faith to be with Ryder, and the two part company

Several years later, during WW2, Ryder, now an army captain, find himself once again at Brideshead, which has been requisitioned by the army. A corporal tells him that the owner (Julia) is now serving in the reserves, and that Bridie, her brother, is dead. He visits the family chapel, where he finds a candle still burning, then leaves.

Cast

*Emma Thompson as Lady Marchmain
*Michael Gambon as Lord Marchmain
*Ben Whishaw as Lord Sebastian Flyte
*Matthew Goode as Charles Ryder
*Greta Scacchi as Cara
*Patrick Malahide as Mr. Ryder
*Hayley Atwell as Lady Julia Flyte
*Felicity Jones as Lady Cordelia Flyte
*Joseph Beattie as Anthony Blanche
*James Bradshaw as Mr. Samgrass

Production

David Yates was set to direct this film, but had to step aside from the director's chair to direct "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" instead. While Yates was attached, Paul Bettany, Jennifer Connelly, and Jude Law were cast in the roles of Charles, Julia and Sebastian, respectively.

The location used for Brideshead is Castle Howard in North Yorkshire. Though Chatsworth House was considered, it was finally decided to return to Castle Howard - the original location of the popular TV serial of the same name, which was first broadcast in 1981. The "Brideshead Revisited" TV series has contributed to Castle Howard's success as a major tourist and visitor attraction, only 13 miles from the historic city of York. Filming of the "Brideshead Revisited" film took place at Castle Howard during the summer of 2007 and many film extras were employed from the local population.

Other locations used in the film include London, Oxford, Morocco, and Venice. [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0412536/locations IMDB entry for Brideshead Revisited] ]

Reception

The film opened for limited release (33 screens) in the United States on July 25th, 2008 and received favorable reviews. [As of August 03, 2008, Rotten Tomatoes reported that 69% of critics gave positive reviews based on 80 reviews.] On its opening weekend, it grossed $332,000 placing 19th at the box office. [ [http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=bridesheadrevisited.htm Box Office figures] ]

It is being shown in August 2008 at the Locarno International Film Festival in Switzerland, in the Piazza Grande section.

There was some controversy over the screenplay not being totally faithful to the original novel, focusing on the romance of Julia and Charles. [McSmith, Andy, [http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/film-and-tv/news/brideshead-rewritten-storm-over-plot-change-in-new-movie-825409.html "Brideshead Rewritten: storm over plot change in new movie"] , The Independent, Saturday, 10 May 2008] Total Film felt that the film "pussy-footed around" key elements such as Sebastian's homosexuality and Charles and Julia's affair which could have benefited from more explicit treatment, and suggested the film "might have had more appeal had the first-choice leads Law, Bettany and Connelly stayed". [Total Film (October 2008 Issue). p.50]

References

External links

* [http://bridesheadrevisited-themovie.com Official Website]
* [http://www.thefilmfactory.co.uk/brideshead/index.html Official UK Website]
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* [http://www.vintagecarriagestrust.org/film07brideshead.htm Filming the first scenes of the 2008 movie adaptation]