Maurice

Based on the E.M. Forster novel, Maurice is a 1987 film by James Ivory that depicts the journey of a young man from desire to self-acceptance. The film was released during the first AIDS decade and was met with criticism for its sympathetic adaptation, but this study argues that it is a model of subtlety and intelligence and worth recuperating from its detractors.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 31 October 2023
Publisher: McGill-Queen's University Press

Maurice, a 1987 adaptation of the E.M. Forster novel by James Ivory, follows the journey of an Edwardian man from the awakening of his desire for and love of men to self-acceptance. This film was one of the most politically resistant of the 1980s, as it dared to depict a young man's coming-out story and a happy ending for its lovers, Maurice and Alec.

James Ivory and producer Ismail Merchant, a couple renowned for their period film adaptations, released Maurice during the first AIDS decade, a time of rampant transatlantic homophobia. Critics following its release described Ivory as a superficial and staid director, while the film was received as a regression to the uncinematic and overly faithful style that characterized the early adaptations by Merchant Ivory Productions.

However, David Greven argues in his study that Maurice is a model of sympathetic adaptation. He offers a close reading of Forster's novel and an analysis of Ivory's distinctive visual style, Richard Robbinss indelible score, and the performances of James Wilby, Hugh Grant, and Rupert Graves. Greven contends that the film is a masterpiece of Merchant Ivory's work, showcasing Ivory's underappreciated talents as a director of great subtlety and intelligence, and deserving of recuperation from its detractors.

Understanding Maurice as a fully realized work of art and adaptation, this volume provides insight into how a stunning novel of gay love became a classic of queer film. It explores the themes of desire, love, identity, and societal acceptance, and offers a poignant reflection on the struggles and triumphs of LGBTQ+ individuals throughout history.

Dimension: 203 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780228018780