Derek

There have been precious few true innovators of Gay Cinema (if you can really call it that). Sure, great directors such as Rainer Werner Fassbinder and Pedro Almodovar were/are openly gay and can boast an impressive back catalogue of films, but few have tackled the portrayal and attitudes towards homosexuality with such an eagerness than Britain's own Derek Jarman. Derek is a loving recollection of Jarman's life and work, spoken by Jarman himself, intertwined with visuals and poetry by Jarman's muse, Tilda Swinton.

I have only seen one of his films - his most popular, 1986's excellent Caravaggio - which puts me in a slightly awkward position in reviewing this documentary, having relatively little experience of his art. But after viewing it, although it runs at a slight 75 minutes, I feel prepared to tackle his films with more insight into his thinking. He discusses his childhood growing up with a military father and a free- spirited mother in Middlesex, and then his artistic awakening at the Slade School of Art, where he fell in with many radical artists that help mould his own output. His first film, Sebastiane (1976) caused a massive stir in its open depiction of homosexual desire, featuring highly erotic, slow-motion of scenes of love-making (and an erection!).

Jarman would fall in love with the punk movement, and directed many 8mm shorts and low-budget, sometimes avant-garde features, as well as music videos for the likes of The Smiths and Pet Shop Boys. But it would be his activity in Gay Rights activism that many of his friends and colleagues appreciate and love him for, which is clear from the words of Swinton. She remembers him in melancholy voice-over tinged with sadness and longing, as Jarman died of AIDS-related illness in 1994. During his final years, he was losing his sight and health, which led to him making Blue (1993), a film consisting solely of blue imagery as Jarman narrates. Derek is an insightful and constantly informative documentary, which can be enjoyed by Jarman fans and newcomers alike, showing Jarman as an extremely likable yet truly under-appreciated film-maker.

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... and to be quite frank, not sure if I do after watching this documentary. More contributing to cast a spell of mysticism on Mr. Derek J., this might be quite a bummer for everyone who hasn't heard of him either ...

Having said that, Tilda S. does a great job as narrator, there are quite a few interesting bits on this man (who was anything but "normal", but you can decide for yourself, if that is for better or worse). And while some might judge him for his likings (or dis likings), that wouldn't be fair in my eyes. While this man was quite controversial, the best thing to do before watching this movie, is to get to know the guy, just to have some basic knowledge on him. Again having said that, this also means, that this movie wasn't really aimed at people who never heard of him (like myself) ... Your choice!

It seems common enough that artists are often far less interesting then their art when it is good. A great deal makes sense when this is examined.

But it is a particular risk of an artist that someone else might try and make art of their life. What seems to have happened here is the expected dilution.

This man made two extraordinary films early in his life: Tempest and Jubilee. Both of these, incidentally featured Tonya Willcox, a profound presence.

Later in life, he turned himself into his own performance, and thus became dull. Tonya was replaced by Tilda Swinton who would herself do some profound things — but not in a Jarman film.

Then in further dilution of power, this life is turned into a film, created and narrated by Tilda. The rough shape of it her offscreen narration while she intensely looks at the camera from London streets. The message is that Derek was a true prophet of the unprocessed truth. This is interspersed with filmed interviews of the man and shots of the decorated cottage where he spent his last days.

The film itself is sensible and direct. It carries an obvious truth. It is well made. We know when it and his life will end, and they both end gracefully. None of these things are true of a good Jarman film.

Ted's Evaluation -- 1 of 3: You can find something better to do with this part of your life.