Derek Jarman's films aren't for everyone: the British writer-director, who died of AIDS in 1994, was defiantly homosexual and made films with strong gay overtones in a style that was deliberately arty and experimental. Regardless, Jarman was a significant cinematic voice, and this collection of four of his films is an important compilation. The most accessible of the quartet here are the two quasi-biographical pieces: Caravaggio (1986), which re-imagines the life of the titular volatile 17th-century artist through deliberate anachronisms and compositions recalling Caravaggio's often-provocative canvases, and Wittgenstein (1993), which combines amusing banter with colorful imagery to explore the thinking of the unconventional philosopher. The other two films are examples of the more rarefied aspects of Jarman's work: The Angelic Conversation (1985) features home-movie style footage of young men punctuated by readings from Shakespeare's sonnets by Judi Dench (apparently recorded in an echo chamber), while Blue (1993), Jarman's final film, is a meditation on the filmmaker's deteriorating physical condition consisting of a bright blue screen that acts as a backdrop for Jarman's ruminations, presented with music and various sound effects. Boasting exemplary transfers, the set's DVD extras—spread across the discs—include Glitterbug (1994), an hour-shy wordless compilation of Jarman's 8mm footage; extensive interviews with Jarman, cast, and crew; the 1994 short film “The Clearing” (in which Jarman himself appeared); and behind-the-scenes material on Caravaggio and Wittgenstein. A must for serious film collections, this is definitely recommended. (F. Swietek)
Glitterbox
Zeitgeist, 4 discs, 313 min., not rated, DVD: $74.99 Volume 23, Issue 5
Glitterbox
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