2002 film by Oliver Parker
The Importance of Being Earnest is a 2002 romantic comedy-drama film directed by Oliver Parker, based on Oscar Wilde's classic 1895 comedy of manners of the same name. A British-American co-production, the film stars Colin Firth, Rupert Everett, Frances O'Connor, Reese Witherspoon, and Judi Dench in lead roles, with Tom Wilkinson, Anna Massey, and Edward Fox in supporting roles. The original music score is composed by Charlie Mole.
The plot follows two men, John Worthing (Firth) and Algernon Moncrieff (Everett), who both lead double lives using the name "Ernest" to escape social obligations, leading to romantic entanglements and comedic misunderstandings. The film explores themes of identity, deception, and social expectations, all set against the backdrop of Victorian England.
The Importance of Being Earnest was released on May 17, 2002.
Plot summary adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.