The Tempest

Shakespeare's The Tempest has always attracted directors prone to excess (on stage and screen), so it's not surprising that flamboyant British filmmaker Derek Jarman would eventually want to have his way with the work. In this, his third feature, the irreverent Jarman has realized the fantastical original as a cross between Dark Shadows and La Cage Aux Folles, with a curious finale complete with dancing sailors and a cocktail lounge rendition of "Stormy Weather." The first sign I had that there might be some rough sailing ahead came in the press release that accompanied the film. The release said that Jarman's version of The Tempest showcased his "punk-like sensibility," and that Jarman cut down the play's "pessimistic dialogue" in order to visually illustrate the work's message, which was about "reparation and forgiveness at the cost of displacing reality." Hmm. Shakespeare's The Tempest, or at least the one that I remember, is a complex blend of humor, romance, and tragedy that examines the issues of man's place in nature, his place in society, and the thin wall that separates fantasy from reality. To serve these demanding themes one needs very talented performers under meticulous direction, but as realized by Jarman and his histrionic troupe, The Tempest is Shakespeare as staged in the rec room of "Cuckoo's Nest." Further compounding the problems here are a very scratchy picture and sound so poor that it often obscures the dialogue, making this 1979 release for Jarman completists only. (S. C. Sickles)[Blu-ray Review—July 31, 2012—Kino, 95 min., not rated, $29.95—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 1979's The Tempest sports a decent transfer with mono sound. Bonus features include three short films by director Derek Jarman: 1971's “A Journey to Avebury” (10 min.), 1972's “Garden of Luxor” (9 min.), and 1973's “Art of Mirrors” (6 min.). Bottom line: a solid extras package for a travesty of a Shakespeare adaptation.]