Sebastian and his teddy bear

[on_se_dit_tu]

Sebastian Flyte from Brideshead Revisited is one of my favorite characters in literature, and I have recently discovered that I am not alone in this.

A few days ago I viewed the 2008 film and found myself having a much different reaction than I did while reading the book. By that I mean I felt so bad for Sebastian that I wanted Charles to forget about Julia enitrely and marry Sebastian. This wasn't for any sort of wish to see man-on-man homoeroticism, but simply because I could not fathom how anyone could not possibly be in love with Ben Whishaw's portrayal of Sebastian. Upon the first viewing I could not even enjoy the love story between Charles and Julia because I wanted Sebastian to return.

The movie, of course, chops the novel all to hell for the sake of brevity, but is visually stunning all the same. Ben Whishaw's performance is stellar, as is Emma Thompson's. I am deeply confused by any and all comparisons to the movie Atonement , which I thoroughly enjoyed and cried over, but in no way connect to Brideshead Revisited, other than the obvious time period in the UK. I also have read Atonement , an emotionally gripping, finely crafted, and deeply depressing book.

I intend to watch the Brideshead Revisited television series from the early 80's because I have been informed that it is more true to the book. I have previewed bits of it and find it much more accurate, but am not as inclined to love that particular actor's version of Sebastian Flyte.

Comments

[elistaire]

He was so *fragile* in the movie, it was hard not to feel protective of him. Plus, yeah, the actor did a really great job.

[lemonadeandgin]

Hi! Found you by the common interest of Sebastian Flyte, and hope you don't mind my commenting. I just wanted to say that I think the comparison between Atonement (which I'm sorry to say I haven't read, which might render my opinion obsolete) and Brideshead is not so much for plot aspects, but rather concerning the degeneration of these upper-class houses on account of how war changed the economic landscape of a country long-embroiled in rigid class systems. It's more about seeing the deterioration of their upper-class status through the way the houses crumble from within. Again, I say this without having read Atonement, though somewhat familiar with the gist of the story.

And as for the original BBC mini-series, you'll find that Andrews' and Whishaw's versions of Sebastian are rather different, but I do love the mini-series. Both are splendid in their own ways. Whishaw is a little more pathetic, as in I think you feel a little more strongly for him in the way that you expressed--you just want him to be okay and come back and marry Charles and they can have a thousand babies or something. I think that need for empathy with Sebastian is exaggerated somewhat in the film because it's so short, so you don't have a long time to get to know him. In the mini-series you get to know Sebastian over time, and he really is incredibly sweet. Watch the first episode through and I'm sure you'll find yourself charmed by him--his lines are delivered in that blithe way, like bubbles, as Anthony Blanche describes them.

To be honest, wanting Sebastian to come back has generally been my wish in every medium of the story!

[on_se_dit_tu]

Thank you for the input! I'm happy to meet you.