MAURICE

Towards the end of the 1980s, the heritage cinema, beneath the great sets and period costumes, was increasingly boldly delving into issues more relevant to the modern day.

James Ivory, a key figure in the heritage cinema movement, addressed a topic of non-heteronormativity that was close to his heart following the success of A ROOM WITH A VIEW, adapting Edward Morgan Forster's novel in 1987.

In a time when homosexuality was a criminal offence in Britain, two students - townsman Maurice (James Wilby) and the aristocrat Clive (Grant) - fall in love with each other. Clive feels this is a more platonic relationship - the young intelligent man doesn't allow himself the physical drive. Over time, the men grow distant from each other. Clive does not accept his nature and tries to fit into the social norms of the time, persuading Maurice to do so as well.  After the breakup, Maurice decides to "cure" himself of his "flaw." However, during his treatment, he meets the young and unrefined Alec (Rupert Graves).

Set against beautiful interiors and landscapes, the director paints a rather unflattering portrait of a bygone era. The protagonists are squeezed by a tight corset of conventions so that freedom in their lives is impossible, and the emotional and sexual spheres remain taboo.

The film is not only an intriguing attempt to critique the era of the British Empire but also marks the rise of a star. It was the role of Clive that brought Hugh Grant acclaim and fame and made him one of the most popular British leading men of the 1990s.

Ivory himself openly speaks about his homosexuality, having founded the production company Merchant Ivory Productions with his long-time partner Ismail Merchant. In recent years, he has reminded audiences of his presence as the screenwriter for Luca Guadagnino's film CALL ME BY YOUR NAME (2017). He received an Oscar for it at the age of 89, thus becoming the oldest recipient of this award.

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Dominika Stachowiak