Angelic Conversation

Ten minutes' worth of voyeuristic amateur video stretched out (playback set to frame-by-frame) into an hour of pretentious gay artsiness. Shakespeare recited to give 'depth' to the platitude - (in a woman's voice - oh, creativity!). Coil's accompanying sounds are the reason why the word 'bombastic' was invented. Just don't think I'm a gay-hater (far from that) - I simply cannot stand this kind of indulgent schmaltz. Love between men equal with gazing upon each other's phiz while fanning? Give me a break. Just imagine this without the oh so cute protagonists: two middle aged, hairy men gone awry staring into the sun, drifting in the water, then decorating each other with pearls. You may like this, but it still remains a lazy kitsch, sorry.

This is possibly the most visually beautiful film I've ever seen.

Like many of Jarman's works, it has no conventional narrative, but a montage of images, music and voice. The film was made by putting the original footage through a variety of different visual processes which end up giving it the look of an oil painting in motion -- I've never seen anything quite like it. The hypnotic (and frequently homoerotic) visual imagery coupled with ethereal, ambient music and a female voice reading Shakespeare's love sonnets is almost trance-inducing -- you seriously feel like you're in an altered state of consciousness by the end of it.

Highly recommended for those who enjoy experimental/art films, but those who don't will probably find the lack of a conventional plot confusing.

Derek Jarman is a brilliant filmmaker, and along with Peter Greenaway, probably the most important British filmmaker of the Post WW2 era.

The Angelic Conversation, while a quality work of extraordinary textural richness, isn't Jarman's best. The problem here lies partially in the editing. It's far too aesthetically disjointed and the optical effects seem cheap and reaching. Maybe it's because a million so-called experimental filmmakers have achieved similar results to a much less pointed effect. That kind of copying unfortunately makes this film seem tired, though the soundtrack and script are spectacular.

It is also Jarman's most personal film aside from perhaps, Blue. This is unfortunate, because Jarman has always been most effective when he looks outward. Sebastione, for instance, was a brilliant historical film that literally transports you back in time and The Garden was a scathing political portrait of fin de siecle England under Thatcher. See those before you watch this, but all Jarman is interesting. Coil fans will also appreciate their contribution to this film.

On his review, the user sylvian wrote: "Just imagine this without the oh so cute protagonists: two middle aged, hairy men gone awry staring into the sun, drifting in the water, then decorating each other with pearls. "

If that was the case, I still will like the film the same, because I don't believe gay men, lesbians or transgender people need to be attractive to be valid or allowed to express themselves.

"Stranger by the Lake" is a good example of that, a very interesting movie featuring unconventionally attractive gay men. Those exist too. Those deserve respect too.

This film is the archtypal Jarman movie. Jarman considered himself a painter more than a film maker and thought of the camera as just an improvement on the brushes of the past. In this film he carries those concepts through to their fullest conclusion.

The moody Voice-overs of Shakespeare sonnets by Dame Judy Dench add to the multi-layered portraits of two young men and their relationship. Jarman was going for a mood here and the narrative line is pretty sketchy but if you ever wondered what would happen if one of those Calvin Klein Obsession adverts were stretched to 80 minutes by a really talented film maker then this is the film for you.

Without a strong narrative line this film may move too slowly for many and you are hereby cautioned. There were several folks noticeably snoring during the screening that I attended but those that are Jarman fans would not miss it.

It also occurred to me that given the very light story line that this might be a great background film to have playing amid a gathering of friends where the entire focus of the group was not on the film.