Basil is a 1998 British historical drama film directed by Radha Bharadwaj and starring Jared Leto, Derek Jacobi, Claire Forlani, and Christian Slater. It was based on the 1852 novel of the same name by Wilkie Collins. The adaptation was by Bharadwaj.

Plot[link]

Basil (Jared Leto) is a young British aristocrat who grew up on the country estate of Windermere Hall. His father, Frederick (Derek Jacobi), is a traditionalist who believes that there are things people of their class should never do. One of those things is romancing the women of lower classes, and Frederick threatens Basil with disinheriting him if he ever succumbs to the temptation. Young Basil is, however, of a rebellious nature and, during his studies, he befriends a commoner named John Mannion (Christian Slater). Mannion introduces the young aristocrat to Julia Sherwin (Claire Forlani), the beautiful daughter of a local merchant. Basil falls in love and marries the girl, only to realize that she was sleeping with John and was pregnant with his child. Basil attacks John in an alley and stomps his face in when he realizes what John was up to. Later he delivers Julia's child and hears John coming up the stairs. He hides and sees him with a mask covering his face. Julia tries to lift it, and John says, "Remember as I was, not what I am now". She dies in his arms after telling him the child is his, not Basil's. All john wants is to take the child and leave. Basil hears and chases John with a knife. They fight and Basil pulls down John's mask. He gasps when he sees his face. It is very scarred and mutilated. John has chosen not to see his face but he sees it in the reflection of the knife he is holding. He goes to a nearby cliff and commits suicide because of his ruined face. Basil takes the newborn child and escapes to Ireland. He names her Clara, after an old friend. He goes back to England and meets the original Clara. They talk and then the film is over.

Cast[link]

• Jared Leto as Basil
• Christian Slater as John Mannion
• Claire Forlani as Julia Sherwin
• Derek Jacobi as Father Frederick
• Crispin Bonham-Carter as Ralph
• Sarah Hadland as Windmere House Chambermaid
• Stephanie Bagshaw as Emma Mannion
• Jenny Downham as Anna
• Ann Louise Grimshaw as Knitting Nurse
• Carli Harris as young Clara Fairfax
• Joanna John as Mother Agnes
• Georgiana Johnson as young Clara
• Jackson Leach as young Basil
• Glenn Marks as Tramp
• Hannah Morris as Regent's Park House Maid
• Christopher Owen as Father Mannion
• Rachel Pickup as Clara Fairfax
• David Ross as Mr. Sherwin
• Matthew Steer as young Ralph
• Maisie Tomlinson as Sherwin Maid
• Jack Wild as Peddler
• Guy Witcher as young John Mannion

Reception[link]

The director’s cut for Basil was selected twice to be the closing night film for the Toronto International Film Festival’s Special Presentation series. The film was pulled from the festival screening at the last minute, foregoing an opportunity to screen at one of the world’s premier film festivals.^[1] Basil was also chosen for a prime slot at the Los Angeles Film Festival.^[2] In February 1998, Basil was screened at the American Film Market and was received positively.^[3]

In the United States, the film was rated R by the MPAA due to a scene involving abortion.^[4]

Release[link]

Basil’s financiers released their cut of the film, complete with their choice of sound, design and music. This is the version that was subsequently released on cable, and then in videotape and DVD.

While Touchstone released the film theatrically on July 22, 1998, the film was released on videocassette on February 1, 2000 by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.^[5] On March 4, 2003, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment released a DVD for region 1,^[6] while a DVD for region 2 was released on April 12, 2005 by ILC Video.^[7]

Release history[link]

See also[link]

Film portal

• British films of 1998
• Cinema of the United Kingdom

References[link]

External links[link]

• Basil at the Internet Movie Database
• Basil at the TCM Movie Database
• Basil at AllRovi