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Review

Wittgenstein - Displaying little of the queer militancy that distinguished his later-career films, and another in a series of biographies of gay historical figures (Sebastiane, Edward II, Caravaggio), Jarman's amusing, intellectual portrait of Austrian-born, British-educated philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein is both a startling primer in low-budget filmmaking as well as a visually exuberant work. Considered one of the century's most influential philosophers, Wittgenstein's private and professional life is chronicled -- from his prodigy childhood to his reluctant life as a professor at Cambridge and a man whose professional life was burdened with guilt about his homosexuality. Jarman utilizes a pitch-black background, allowing the richly drawn, outrageously costumed characters and their witty, thought-provoking dialogue to take center stage. Karl Johnson plays the eccentric philosopher and an adult and Clancey Chassey is delightful as Wittgenstein as a youth. The always delightful Tilda Swinton is lavishly campy as Lady Ottoline. Shot in less than two weeks for Channel 4, this film proves to be an invigorating, uncompromising work.
Caravaggio - This stylishly bold tribute to the volatile artist stars Nigel Terry as the controversial painter torn between his rugged lover (Sean Bean) and his mistress (Tilda Swinton). Jarman sees the darkly handsome Caravaggio as a passionate man with a liking for "rough trade." An elegant tale centering around both the creative process and the touching homoerotic love story of the two men.
The Angelic Conversation - With Judi Dench's offscreen reading of 12 Shakesperean sonnets providing the audio, this non-narrative, experimental film by gay director Jarman centers around the director on a soul-searching mission for meaning in life, this after he discovers that he is HIV-positive. Action involves the sensual grace of male youth and rather than an acceptance of early death is really an affirmation of life.
Blue - Jarman, who died of AIDS in February 1994, had been battling the disease for six years at the time of making the film. With impaired eyesight and deteriorating health, Jarman created a startling experimental film in which he invites his audience into his sight-deprived world creating a womb-like meditative state by employing a completely blue screen throughout the film. A cast including Tilda Swinton and Nigel Terry reads from Jarman's often poetic journals, recounting the director's medical complexities, thoughts on the loss of loved ones, and reflections on his own life and art. Amazingly devoid of anger and neither sermonizing nor self-pitying, Blue is a fitting closure to an eventful career.
Glitterbug - Glitterbug is a collection of Derek Jarman's video diaries set to Brian Eno music. Beginning in 1970, these Super-8 clips follow the filmmaker's life, from his home life, his travels, interactions with friends and work on his films. Jarman supervised the editing of this compilation and finished it before his death in 1994.

 -- Raymond Murray