I finally watched the film today, trying to keep an open mind, but then.... I raised an eyebrow at Julia accompanying Charles and Sebastian to Venice. I rolled my eyes at Julia and Charles's furtive grope in front of Sebastian's stunned eyes. But what prompted an involuntary "this is just too ridiculous" out loud outburst was the OTT scene of Sebastian screeching his hate before the assembly at Julia's 21st birthday ball. I mean, come on.
shareBut what prompted an involuntary "this is just too ridiculous" out loud outburst was the OTT scene of Sebastian screeching his hate before the assembly at Julia's 21st birthday ball. I mean, come on.
I've watched bits of it... but I saw that scene the other day too. I think it was meant to be a filmic version of the bit where Sebastian gets drunk over Christmas and comes down to interrupt Lady M at her reading aloud to the family...
I know! What was with the tension between Charles and Julia starting so early? o.O
I came into the film halfway the other day. I'd always avoided the film, because I'd looked at the cast list and thought "Ben Wishaw as Sebastian Flyte? Pfffft!"
At first, I was pleasantly surprised - the visuals and costume were stunning, and Wishaw, despite looking nothing like Sebastian, managed to capture an impressive essence of the character - although admittedly, he did go a little OTT with the fey, vulnerable thing.
Then there was all this weird staring going on with Charles and Julia, and the next thing I know, they're dancing at her birthday/engagement party with him saying "But we kissed...and it was amazing!" (or something to that effect) and a bit of my brain shorted out.
The whole point of Charles and Julia's relationship in the second part of the book is because they are both trying to recapture some sense of the past, and fill the emotional absence left by Sebastian (well, latter definitely in Charles' case...not so sure about Julia) - to have them start a relationship other than friendship, with perhaps an underlying hint of over-looked attraction, any earlier than that just tears the book clean in two. ¬_¬
I'm not sure why you say Ben whishaw is nothing like Sebastian. In the book much is made of Sebastian and Julia looking alike and Julia is described as having dark hair. Anthony Andrews had blonde hair as Sebastian, which was not true to the novel.
But you are absolutely right in all else that you have said. The relationship portrayed between Charles and Julia was just wrong and messed up the story completely, including Waugh's main theme which centred on "the operation of divine grace" on the characters.
Condensing a full novel into a couple of hours cinema is rarely satisfactory for those who know the novel. In this case it was a travesty.