Oscar and Lucinda (1997)

[trugannini]

Ralph Fiennes made this movie after the English Patient. I have only just seen it.
His portrayal of Oscar Hopkins almost took my breath away. Devout, tender, twitchy,
honest, childlike, full of neuroses. Totally vulnerable. The beautiful, sad story was
a delight. I looked for an audio book of this work, and there is one, read by Fiennes,
available only, it looks like, on cassette tape. Does anyone know of a CD of his
reading of this book, and what did you think of his portrayal of Oscar?

[Diana1401]

I think Oscar is one of his best roles in my opinion. You are right: so vulnerable and sweet, touching... and the tender but unhappy endling love between them two... First time I saw it I really made me cry a little bit. And the house where Oscar grew up looked a lot like the house where Ralph grew up as a kid, when his parents were still in Ireland.
A really beautiful, sad and touching story.

But I have no idea if there is an audio book on cd. I only know of The English Patient on CD.

[trugannini]

Do you have any photos of the house where Ralph grew up in Ireland, or where I can
see one Diana1401?

[trugannini]

Diana, there is a audio cassette of him reading Oscar and Lucinda, put out by Random
House. Recorded in 1997 (in an interview, he said he was reading O and L whilst he
was waiting between shots in TEP) Amazon have the audio cassette of O&L, I have another
DVD of him reading some Rudyard Kipling stories and poems, his reading is superb. :)

[Liza]

I believe this role, along with the performances in Spider and In Bruges, best illustrates this artist's amazing ability to transform himself. Ralph is completely brilliant and consummate in his work. Oscar Hopkins is a testimony to that. I completely love this story and while it was heartbreaking, it was also a very true and beautiful testimony to the power of love.

[trugannini]

Yes Liza, I've been around for 70 years and he is the Best Actor I have ever seen.
Peter Carey's novel, Oscar and Lucinda can't have been easy to transfer to screen,
and the casting people have done a remarkable job. It was made in my country,
and whoever chose Fiennes, must have been watching him for a while, because he
was perfectly cast. No one else could have come close.
Bruges hasn't come to Australia yet, and while I have read conflicting reviews of the
film, I will still buy the DVD just to see Ralph's performance.

[Liza]

In Bruges was a really good film. It was rather rough and violent, but Ralph's performance is completely brilliant. I think you'll be impressed.

[Diana1401]

Here is a picture of the house from his biography.

[Liza]

Diana, thanks for posting this. : )

[trugannini]

Oh Diana, it looks just right! For him to able to 'run free' as a child, even if for a short
period...thank you for posting this. :) :)

[trugannini]

Yesterday I found on Amazon.com, the cassette tape of Ralph Fiennes reading Oscar and Lucinda.
Of course, I ordered it. Take care though, because there are other readings by different people.
The one with our Boy reading is put out by Random House. I plan to convert it to CD when it arrives.
It didn't cost very much Under US$10. I'd rather buy it now, than let it go, 'cause I'm sure he won't
get around to reading it again. :)

[trugannini]

The Audio Book, Oscar and Lucinda, by Random House arrived this week! It is a triumph of the oral tradition. His reading is Superb, the phrasing, the nuances, so subtle. His voice is deep and mellow. There is a picture of him on the cover, in the studio, reading the book. But the ending is completely different to the film. That's all I'm going to say. Those of you who have read it will know. The sound on the cassette is great, no crackles or noises. I won't
be converting it to CD, it's perfect, just the way it is. Just like Prince Rupert's Drop. :)
I listened to it all the way through the evening it arrived. About 3 hours, the time just flew. :)

[Liza]

trugannini, I'm glad you enjoyed it! Ralph was superb in this reading as always!!