Cyprus Mail 1 April 2021 - by Eleni Philippou
“All bad art is the result of good intentions,” Oscar Wilde once said and one cultural platform has set out to celebrate the mighty Irish writer’s life and work. Within the framework of The Cyprus Oscar Wilde Festival, an online premiere of the film De Profundis by Oscar Wilde, with Vasiliki Kypraiou and Vangelis Gettos will take place on April 9.
One hundred and twenty years after Oscar Wilde’s death, actress Vasiliki and musician Vangelis interpret De Profundis, the burning letter-testament of the great Irish writer, through an experimental medium-length film.
Supported by the Embassy of Ireland in Cyprus, the film will launch on the YouTube Channel of the Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs at 9pm Cyprus time. The Ambassador of Ireland in Cyprus Deirdre Ní Fhallúin will introduce the film on the evening.
The letter which Oscar Wilde wrote in Reading Gaol prison – a letter which would later be given the title De Profundis – constitutes a holistic manifesto on life, art and human existence. The issues which he addresses within this classic text remain open, more so than ever. Wilde concentrates on topics like artistic dignity, aesthetics, the role of art and the exile of humanity, the devastating feeling of unfairness and the alienation of industrial society in a few pages in a surprisingly inclusive way.
In the film, human voice and music are in tune with Wilde’s writing style, combined with scenes from the recording studio and the Cypriot countryside. To watch it, audiences have to request a free ticket by April 8, 11pm by visiting the event on Eventbrite.ie
De Profundis
Online premiere of the film by Oscar Wilde with Vasiliki Kypraiou and Vangelis Gettos. April 9. 9pm. On Youtube. Free. Registration is essential. Contact: nicosiaembassy@dfa.ie.
