The Picture of Dorian Gray
Directed by Duncan Roy
(USA/UK; 2007; 97 min; DigiBeta; Color)

Oscar Wilde’s scandalous novel finds renewed potency in this explicitly gay adaptation set within New York’s contemporary art scene. Dorian is rich, young, and possessing astounding beauty attractive to both sexes. Artist-of-the-moment Basil becomes hopelessly lovesick for Dorian, immortalizing him in a highly personal video installation. Henry, Basil’s art dealer and blatant libertine, begins to influence Dorian, especially disparaging his future wife, the hopelessly talentless and aptly named Sybil Vane. As Henry’s influence becomes increasingly sinister, Dorian becomes increasingly vane, making a deal with the devil to allow him to preserve his youthful looks while Basil’s video bears the scourge of age and sin.

A masterful combination of vision and artistry, Duncan Roy returns to the audacious roots of his feature debut, the unforgettable A.K.A., this time turning his inventive videography into a character within the film: the chilling eponymous portrait. In a time when so many are willing to go to such great and dangerous lengths to preserve what remains of their youth, Wilde’s indelible novel, itself over a hundred year’s old, becomes, much like it’s title character, an ageless testament to the perils awaiting those foolishly seeking the elusive fountain.
In collaboration with: The Alley Theatre DiverseWorks