Wide Sargasso Sea (1993 film)

Wide Sargasso Sea is a 1993 Australian film directed by John Duigan and starring Karina Lombard and Nathaniel Parker. It is an adaptation of Jean Rhys's 1966 novel of the same name.

Not to be confused with Wide Sargasso Sea (2006 film).
Wide Sargasso Sea
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJohn Duigan
Produced byJan Sharp
Written byJohn Duigan
Carole Angier
Jan Sharp
(based on the novel by Jean Rhys)
Starring
Music byStewart Copeland
CinematographyGeoff Burton
Edited byAnne Goursaud
Jimmy Sandoval
Distributed byNew Line Cinema
Release date
16 April 1993 (1993-04-16) (US)
Running time
98 minutes
CountryAustralia
LanguageEnglish
Box office$1,614,784[1]

Premise

The novel and film explore Jean Rhys's account of the West Indian Creole heiress, here called Antoinette Cosway, who marries the Englishman Mr. Rochester from Jane Eyre, and becomes his "madwoman in the attic" featured in the novel Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. For a full-length summary see: plot summary of Wide Sargasso Sea.

Cast

Release

Fine Line Features released the film for the United States market. The film was given a restrictive NC-17 rating due to its sexual content. Fine Line opted not to pursue a less restrictive, more marketable R rating.[2]

Production

The screenplay was written by Australian director John Duigan, producer Jan Sharp, and Carole Angier, a Rhys biographer.

John Duigan later said he did not enjoy the experience of making this film:

It was probably the only really unsatisfying interaction that I've had with a production company and I found that I had major disagreements with them and with the producers. It was unfortunate. Jan Sharp, the producer of the film, had the tenacity to get the film made, but she and I had differences of opinion. She was very well informed on the book, and I'm sure her opinions were arguable, as I like to think mine were, but when you have a situation like that, I think the overall project can suffer. I think the film did suffer from that division.[3]

Reception

Before release in the United States, the film was caught up in changing classification rules for films. Largely because it contained full frontal male nudity, as well as erotic content, it was classified as NC-17, which limited the number of theaters that would carry it. It received a largely favorable review by critic Vincent Canby of the New York Times.[4] He describes the lean Gothic romance film as "romantic" but "without soft edges. It is as cool, precise and hard as the Rhys prose."[4] Canby also notes that the casting of Karina Lombard, who is half-Lakota, adds an unstated racial dimension that is not part of the novel.[4]

Wide Sargasso Sea grossed $45,806 at the box office in Australia.[5]

See also

References
  1. https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=widesargassosea.htm
  2. Grimes, William (30 November 1992). "Reviewing the NC-17 Film Rating: Clear Guide or an X by a New Name?". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 May 2010.
  3. "Interview with John Duigan", Signet, 28 April 1994 and 17 May 1997; accessed 18 November 2012
  4. Vincent Canby, "Review/Film, Mrs. Rochester No.1, Long Before 'Jane Eyre'", New York Times, 16 April 1993; accessed 28 October 2018
  5. Film Victoria - Australian Films at the Australian Box Office
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