Derek Jarman's birthday would be today! Now yesterday ;-) As a mark of respect to Derek Jarman, I am posting some links to some of his works which have inspired me...
Derek Jarman (31 January 1942 – 19 February, 1994) was an English film director, stage designer, artist, and writer. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derek_Jarman Jubilee (1977 film), a cult film directed by Derek Jarman. It stars Jenny Runacre, Ian Charleson, and a host of punk rockers. The title refers to the Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II in 1977. "When Queen Elizabeth I asks her court alchemist to show her England in the future, she’s transported 400 years to a post-apocalyptic wasteland of roving girl gangs, an all-powerful media mogul, fascistic police, scattered filth, and twisted sex. With Jubilee, legendary British filmmaker Derek Jarman channeled political dissent and artistic daring into a revolutionary blend of history and fantasy, musical and cinematic experimentation, satire and anger, fashion and philosophy. With its uninhibited punk petulance and sloganeering, Jubilee brings together many cultural and musical icons of the time, including Jordan, Toyah Willcox, Little Nell, Wayne County, Adam Ant, and Brian Eno (with his first original film score), to create a genuinely unique, unforgettable vision. Ahead of its time and often frighteningly accurate in its predictions, it is a fascinating historical document and a gorgeous work of film art." http://www.criterion.com/films/736 Jubilee was one of those films which influenced my own life greatly. The spirit of the movie connected to me personally and (dare I say it) spiritually, in respect of it triggering off various inner feelings which before laid ungrounded. From then on, art, punk and everything else fell into place... Here is a snippet of Jubilee on Youtube BEYOND THE ENDLESS FUTURE CITY part 1 (Amyl Nitrate Lesson 1) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmidfMeK7AE&feature=related Escena de Ballet de Jubilee http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxEn5ldq8O4 Amyl Nitrate - Rule Britannia http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlL0D5BF2Ok&feature=related -------------------------------------- The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead (music video directed by Derek Jarman). "The Queen Is Dead", starts with a soundbite from Bryan Forbes' 1962 British film The L-Shaped Room. Another instance of Morrissey's fascination with '60s British cinema. The soundbite is Courtneidge's character nostalgically singing the World War I song "Take Me Back to Dear Old Blighty". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wz5IFl7uCis -------------------------------------- The Devils. "The Devils is a 1971 British horror film directed by Ken Russell. It stars Oliver Reed and Vanessa Redgrave. It is based partially on the 1952 book The Devils of Loudun by Aldous Huxley, and partially on the 1960 play The Devils by John Whiting, also based on Huxley's book." |Derek Jarman was responsible for the film's production design. The film is a dramatised historical account of the rise and fall of Urbain Grandier, a 17th century French priest executed for witchcraft." "A highly controversial film which has a history of censorship. The film is a strong condemnnation of religious institutions such as the Catholic Church and organized religion in general. This, combined with its unrelentingly graphic depictions of sex and violence, has led to its history of censorship. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Devils_(film)." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Devils_(film) I remember reading The Devils of Loudun by Aldous Huxley, an amazing book. Oh yes, at a young age the film itself blew my mind... The Devils (Ken Russell, 1971) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8Xgm1u_SF4 That's my fave selection, any other suggestions? Wishing all well. marc _______________________________________________ NetBehaviour mailing list [email protected] http://www.netbehaviour.org/mailman/listinfo/netbehaviour
