Derek Jarman’s most profound reflection on art, sexuality and identity retells the life of the celebrated 17th century painter through his brilliant, nearly blasphemous paintings and his flirtations with the underworld. Caravaggio incorporates the painter’s precise aesthetic into the movie’s own visuals, while touching on all of Jarman’s major concerns: history, homosexuality, violence and the relationship between painting and film.
About the film
Details
- Running time
- 1 hr. 33 min.
- Country, year
- United Kingdom, 1986
- Genre
- Drama
- Language
- English
- Subtitles
- Lithuanian
- Age rating
- N/A
Credits
- Director
- Derek Jarman
- Screenplay
- Derek Jarman, Nicholas Ward Jackson
- Cinematography
- Gabriel Beristain
- Cast
- Nigel Terry, Dexter Fletcher, Tilda Swinton, Robbie Coltrane
- More information
- www.imdb.com
Festivals and awards
- Silver Bear Award, C.I.D.A.L.C. Award
- Special Prize of the Jury.
Director
Derek Jarman
Derek Jarman was born in 1942 in England. He was an accomplished painter, acclaimed set designer for theatre and film, also fierce activist for gay rights. He shared news of his HIV infection and incorporated his subsequent battles with AIDS into his work. In 1976 he presented his first feature film Sebastiane about life and death of the martyr Saint Sebastian. In his second film, Jubilee (1978), Queen Elizabeth I travels through late 70s punk Britain. Films Caravaggio (1986), Edward II (1991) and Wittgenstein (1993) are loosely based on lives of these famous historical figures. In 1989 the powerful War Requiem was presented. His final film Blue (1993) was arguably the most remarkable and personal film. He died in 1994 from AIDS related causes.
