Wilde

During his 1882 US lecture tour, Wilde visits Leadville, Colorado and captivates the miners with his flamboyant wit. He regales them with tales of Renaissance silversmith Benvenuto Cellini, drawing laughter and astonishment from the crowd. The episode underscores Wilde’s appeal beyond the stage.

On the opening night of Lady Windermere's Fan, Wilde is re-introduced to Lord Alfred Douglas, known as Bosie. Sparks fly as they begin a passionate, tempestuous relationship. This new liaison will cast a long shadow over Wilde's personal and public life.

Wilde returns to London and marries Constance Lloyd in 1884; the couple soon welcomes two sons in quick succession. They cultivate a poised domestic life as Wilde’s fame rises. Yet the marriage will be tested by Wilde’s later affairs and public trials.

During the second child's infancy, the couple host Robbie Ross, a young Canadian who seduces Wilde. Ross's affection for Wilde endures and complicates the triangulated relationships. He will become a loyal, enduring friend.

Wilde and Bosie's relationship becomes stormy and sexual; Bosie seeks other partners while Wilde remains a voyeur at times. The volatile dynamic strains Wilde's marriage and fuels his public persona. The affair becomes central to Wilde's later legal troubles.

The Marquess of Queensberry publicly objects to Wilde's relationship with Bosie and insults him, prompting Wilde to sue for criminal libel. The case exposes Wilde's homosexuality before the public and press. The feud triggers Wilde's fall from social grace.

Wilde is convicted of gross indecency and sentenced to two years' hard labor. The harsh sentence devastates his health and spirits, marking a brutal nadir in his life. He endures grueling conditions that will haunt him for years.

During his imprisonment, Constance visits Wilde and manages practical matters, including sending their son Cyril to study in Germany and discussing medical needs such as back surgery. Wilde contemplates his marriage and love, knowing his family remains distant. The scenes reveal the emotional strain behind the public trial.

Wilde is released in May 1897 and is greeted by Ada Leverson carrying the manuscript of De Profundis. He immediately goes into exile on the European continent, leaving Britain behind. The act marks the beginning of a new, solitary chapter in his life.

Constance Lloyd dies in April 1898; Wilde visits her grave yet remains estranged from his children. Since her death he is not allowed to see his offspring, deepening the rift with his family. The loss further isolates him in exile.

In exile, Wilde eventually reunites with Bosie Douglas; they meet but part after about three months, their relationship rekindled for a brief period. The reunion offers a fleeting glimpse of the past before it fades. The film hints at the unresolved nature of their bond.

A final epilogue notes Wilde's death in Paris in November 1900 at age 46. The fates of Bosie and Robbie Ross are sketched in brief glimpses, rounding out the portrait of a life in exile. The closing moments reflect on the consequences of Wilde's extraordinary career.

Portions of The Selfish Giant are woven throughout the film, first told to Wilde's children, then read by Constance, and finally heard in a closing voice-over as the story echoes his life. The motif mirrors Wilde's concerns with generosity, fame, and family. It anchors the film's emotional arc from childhood storytelling to farewell.