Oscar and Lucinda is a 1997 co-production between Australia and the United States, directed by Gillian Armstrong (Charlotte Gray, 2001; Little Women, 1994; Mrs. Soffel, a true story, 1984; The Last Great Magician, 2007).
The film stars Cate Blanchett as Lucinda Leplastrier and Ralph Fiennes as Oscar Hopkins.
Both are free spirits whose “greatest sin” is their fondness for gambling. Lucinda is a woman whose fortune takes her around the world, and she eventually invests in a glass factory. Oscar, on the other hand, is a priest who earns his living through gambling, always donating his winnings to charity.
Oscar and Lucinda are innocent souls who are unable to consummate the love that grows between them.
Oscar sets out to deliver a glass church to Lucinda’s friend, Reverend Dennis Hasset (Ciarán Hinds), but ends up being deceived, feeling unworthy of Lucinda and unable to see her again.
The performances of Cate Blanchett and Ralph Fiennes are truly pure, reflecting love, loyalty, friendship, and innocence. They also explore the internal struggles with the “guilt” instilled by religion, which can limit our ability to be ourselves.
It’s a film full of beauty, not only in its acting but also in its cinematography.