The Films of Derek Jarman
Wittgenstein
 |
1992 — 69 minutes, color, aspect ratio 16:9 — Experimental Drama
Essential Jarman. Shockingly playful biopic about one of the twentieth century's most erudite, and fabulously gay, philosophers. |
Review
Brief Introduction (Full Review Coming Soon)
DVD released June 24, 2008 as both a single DVD and as part of the superb five-film collection, Glitterbox: Derek Jarman x 4 (details below)
Jarman's Wittgenstein is a visually lush, and shockingly entertaining, portrait of one of the twentieth century's most erudite, and fabulously gay, philosophers. While unlocking the secrets of linguistics, logic, mathematics and philosophy of mind, he was more likely to be found tapping his toes to Carmen Miranda musicals than lucubrating about Aristotle.
The film achieves the seemingly impossible: in just over an hour, it dramatizes all of the major turning points in the philospher's life (including his coming to terms with being gay, thanks to the handsome young philosophy student Johnny, played by Jarman's real-life lover/life partner Kevin Collins), elucidates the main points of his (to say the least) abstruse philosophy, is often hilariously funny... yet genuinely moving, as we come to understand the man better than he seems to understand himself.
This is a very special — and astonishingly entertaining — film: Just sit back, relax, laugh, maybe cry a little... and don't be surprised if you find yourself haunted by its images, emotions and ideas for long afterwards. Rarely has so much been done so memorably in 69 minutes, at least onscreen.
Its wittily theatrical screenplay — tracing Ludwig from his cultured upbringing to his death — is co-written by one of England's preeminent literary critics, Terry Eagleton; its opulent costume design is by frequent Jarman collaborator Sandy Powell (Scorsese's The Aviator); the cast includes Karl Johnson (Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon) in the title role, Tilda Swinton (Orlando) as Lady Ottoline Morrell, and Michael Gough (Batman) as Bertrand Russell.
PLEASE NOTE that Wittgenstein is available both as a separate DVD and as part of the four-disc set, Glitterbox: Derek Jarman x 4.
Full review coming soon — I'm still working my way through the Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus — ah, research! — but you certainly don't have to! Just see, and enjoy, Jarman's extraordinary film.
DVD
Zeitgeist Films' DVD has vivid sound and image quality that is, whenever Lady Ottoline Morrel (Tilda Swinton) is onscreen, jaw-dropping. All of the many supplements are of great interest. Like all five films in the collection Glitterbox: Derek Jarman x 4, this is a superb release. Following is a list of special features for this release.
DVD Details
- Restored anamorphic transfer, created from Hi-Def elements
- Video interviews with actress Tilda Swinton, actor Karl Johnson and producer Tariq Ali
- Extensive behind-the-scenes footage
- Video introduction by film historian Ian Christie
- "The Clearing" (Alex Bistikas, 1994), an enigmatic short film featuring Jarman
- English subtitles for the deaf and hearing impaired
- $29.99 suggested retail
In Region 1, this film is available both as a separate DVD and as part of the four-disc / five-film box set, Glitterbox: Derek Jarman x 4 (The Angelic Conversation, Caravaggio, Wittgenstein, and Blue, plus the posthumous Glitterbug) — $74.99 suggested retail
Reviewed June 24, 2008
Site search
This search engine covers the entire website (GLBT literature, film, and all other pages) — results will open in a new window. You can also use the site map.