Oscar and Lucinda

Shown: 24 January 2000
Introduced by Paula Thelwell

USA/Australia 1997
Directed by Gillian Armstrong
Leading players - Ralph Fiennes, Cate Blanchet and Ciaran Hinds

Synopsis

Oscar Hopkins (Ralph Fiennes) is an eccentric misfit from his early years growing up in a suffocating household in the 19th century West Country with his strict Pentecostal father Theophilus (Clive Russell). Receiving what he perceives to be a sign from God Oscar flees his home, to be taken in by the local Anglican priest, the Rev. Hugh Stratton (Tom Wilkinson). Enveloped in religious fervour the young boy decides to train for a life in the Church of England, to the dismay of his father and his congregation.

On the other side of the world a kindred spirit also bucks against society's mores. Lucinda Leplastrier (Cate Blanchet) does not fit the model of an educated, middle-class young Australian lady.

Ostracised for their individualistic traits Oscar and Lucinda meet through their passion for gambling, on a ship bound for Australia. A strange, yet close relationship grows between these odd and enduring characters.

Lucinda has a dream of building a glass cathedral to send to her past love, the Rev. Dennis Haslet (Ciaran Hinds) in his isolated outback parish. To prove his love for her, Oscar offers to take it. However, unable to resist a wager, Lucinda bets her fortune that he will not succeed.

The events which follow seal their fate.

Faithfully adapted from Peter Carey's Booker Prize-winning novel, director Gillian Armstrong portrays the story of Oscar and Lucinda in flashback.

Panned by some critics for not capturing the emotion of Carey's text, Armstrong faced a thankless task of recreating such a recent book on the big screen. However, Fiennes and Blanchet succeed in getting inside their characters, obviously relishing the chance to play such challenging roles.