The Ballad of Reading Gaol

1988 0h 42m EN

💀

3.7

SKIP

★3.7TMDB · 3

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Oscar Wilde’s famous and eloquent defence of love – made while he was being cross-examined at the trial that led to his incarceration and death – is strikingly illustrated, word by word, with Mapplethorpe-like imagery.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Cast

Quentin Crisp
Narrator

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Richard Kwietniowski
Writers: Richard Kwietniowski, Oscar Wilde
Languages: English
Countries: United Kingdom

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Tight 42-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Shot for just $0.5M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

ERA

Did you know

38 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Richard Kwietniowski, shot by Oliver Curtis. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Bob Locke. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Peter Webber shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0136720 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Richard Kwietniowski directs. Oliver Curtis behind the camera. Bob Locke scores. Peter Webber cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United Kingdom. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Tight 42-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.
2Shot for just $0.5M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.
338 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
4Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
5Directed by Richard Kwietniowski, shot by Oliver Curtis. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by Bob Locke. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor Peter Webber shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8IMDB entry: tt0136720 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Only 3 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.