By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 5 cats
Director: Derek Jarman
Starring: Johnny Mills | Kevin Collins | Pete Lee-Wilson | Philip MacDonald | Spencer Leigh | Tilda Swinton
Country: germany, japan, united_kingdom
Year: 1990
Running time: 92
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099634/reference
Philip says: “Of my three most influential film directors, Alfred Hitchcock taught me that beauty, complexity, and suspense can have a place in a mass-marketed film. Pedro Almodóvar taught me the importance of family, absurdity in story, and the strength of female-centric film. Derek Jarman taught me the power of independent film and political activism, of women’s independence, and the power of gay male sexuality that is male intimacy – love, touch, kissing, open expression of emotion, and commitment can create the most controversial and powerful statements in art and in life. That intimacy continues to be the strongest tool gay men can use to redefine masculinity and overcome the patriarchy.
“Derek Jarman blends an eclectic combination of experimental film, Christian iconography, gay male relationships, gay political activism, and a sort of stream of consciousness which together permeate his 1990 film, THE GARDEN. Jarman uses his own garden as sacred space to explore the parallels between the persecution of Christ and his followers to LGBT people at the height of the AIDS crisis and oppression from Thatcherism. Jarman’s highly experimental film acts as a multiple triptych of imagery, ideas, connections, and questions which both soothe and disturb the viewer throughout the 92 minutes. Tilda Swinton’s Madonna and Child recreation starts out idyllic until the paparazzi turn on them. The
Think Pink number displays genius beyond imagination; revolutionary for 1990, much less 30 years later in 2020. There is so much to unpack from THE GARDEN: tenderness, bigotry, nature, hatred, joy, sorrow, and hope all exist simultaneously. And throughout the film, images and footage of Jarman and his actual garden display an organic spirituality in contrast with the difficult history of the church for women and LGBT people. So thrilled I finally watched THE GARDEN. The film reminds me of Derek Jarman’s genius and how sad I am that AIDS took him at the height of his creativity.
5 cats
