Pride Month: Maurice, dir. James Ivory

The Wiz RECOMMENDS Maurice It's easy to see the trailer, posters and some photos of the 1987 film Maurice and think it's Brokeback Mountain but a costume drama. And you'd be partially right: Yes, the film is about a love between two men. Yes, it's about these men living in a time where their love is frowned upon. And yes, it does show these elements quite openly with nudity and plenty of male-to-male kissing (though it's nowhere near as bold is Brokeback) But the difference between the two are actually pretty stark: the main thrust of Brokeback was clearly the romance between the two men. Maurice, however, is more about the Immorality Law that was in place in England where the film is taking place. The film goes less into the romance between Clive and Maurice and more into why the romance will never happen and what Maurice has to do to hide his desires unless both Clive and him lose their livelihoods and their reputations. This causes a problem: while the focus on the Immorality Law does provide a very interesting twist, it devalues the actual romantic elements of the film, both of Clive and what happens at the end. This also hurts in one aspect of the drama: in no way is it a thought that Maurice is in any danger throughout the film. The result is a film that feels like an interesting film to show how hard it was to be a homosexual during that time than a film about a forbidden romance. If you celebrate Pride Month, this is more of a movie that is an interesting "side film" if you want a movie that is less focused on romance.