Maurice (1987)

Directed by James Ivory

This is a film I’ve always loved, for me, it’s an unrealised version of Brideshead Revisited on screen. Of course, Evelyn Waugh only ever hinted at the intimacy between Charles and Sebastian – you can pick this up from the introduction of the two men in the book – that Sebastian was wearing Charles’ tie. In Maurice, based on the novel by E.M. Forster of the same name, the story is much more turbulent as it dealt with the Edwardian era’s view on homosexuality (both a crime and something that can be ‘cured’) – must have the reflected the author’s own struggle (the novel was published posthumously and to much controversy).

It is a beautifully rendered love story and the young Hugh Grant and James Wilby are brilliant in portraying their restrained desires for each other. Set at Kings College, Cambridge, rather than Waugh‘s Hertford College, Oxford (which I had the pleasure of visiting last year).

I would like to think that the Merchant Ivory team paid tribute to Forster in their rendering of this film, telling the story as truthfully as possible – and that their own lives echoed that of Forster‘s unrealised one.

Particularly notable, are the romantic, idyllic grass scenes from three productions: Maurice, Brideshead Revisited and Call Me By Your Name. (I’ve taken the liberty of grouping them here). It’s worth noting that Call Me By Your Name was also co-produced by James Ivory who wrote the screenplay.

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