Derek Jarman Volumes 1-2: 1976-1994

[swo17]

^ Thanks. I do love a good Shakespeare adaptation so I might start with that.

Depending on how you define "good Shakespeare adaptation" you may very well hate it!

[Cronenfly]

Is Volume 2 limited to 2000 copies like Volume 1 (at least that’s the number I seem to remember)?

The price did eventually drop for Volume 1 on Base.com (to about 33 pounds, if I remember correctly), and the first set did take about a year to sell out, so it seems worth waiting, but I don’t want to miss it either.

EDIT-Then again, assuming set two goes that low as well (from its present 46 pounds) that’s only a savings of about twenty bucks weighed against its potentially going OOP...

[AidanKing]

Is the Jim Ellis book 'Derek Jarman's Angelic Conversations'? If so, does anyone know how good it is?

With regard to Volume 2, I would highly recommend getting it rather than risking it going out of print. It's an excellent set.

[AidanKing]

The Jim Ellis book is 'Derek Jarman's Angelic Conversations' and, from an initial browse through, it seems like a pretty good analysis of the films, largely from the point of view of their relationship to relevant political movements and ideas, such as Situationism with respect to 'Jubilee' and anti-Thatcherism with regard to 'The Last of England'. The section on 'Imagining October' does include a detailed description of the film. I think the book would work very well read alongside something like Tony Peake's excellent biography of Jarman.

With regard to the unavailability of the majority of the Super 8 films, Thames and Hudson published a book by James McKay, 'Derek Jarman Super 8', in 2014. It appears to consist largely of frames taken from the films so might give some indication of their form and content, albeit without motion.

[MichaelB]

From the latest BFI press release:

15 July: stand-alone Blu-ray editions of Derek Jarman’s later classics Blue (1993) and The Garden (1990). These titles follow the Blu-ray box set Jarman Volume Two released earlier this year and the screenings of The Garden taking place in selected cinemas from 21 June.

[therewillbeblus]

I've been making my way through Vol. 2, and while I still have yet to see Blue and Glitterbug, this set of films is just terrific, surpassing all expectations I had, knowing Jarman only from his earlier films. I wasn't able to grab Vol. 1 before it went OOP, but having seen most of those films I may be blasphemous in saying I prefer this second half of his career. Edward II is by far my least favorite film in the set as I tend to feel less enthusiastic about Jarman's 'straighter' period films (Caravaggio, The Tempest) even if I see what he's doing with them.

The Last of England is one of the more emotionally moving cinematic experiences I've had recently, and the next two films in the set give it a run for its money. But it's with Wittgenstein that Jarman elevates his skills to a territory I wasn't aware he had ever ventured. By taking a mostly organically humorless script and filming it with invention as farce to the greatest hits of philosophers and philosophy itself as a practice (and, even more whittled down, just the absurdity of human behavior in general as it relates to attempts at definition via intelligentsia) without being pejorative or condescending, he demonstrates an audacity and creativity around conceptual flexibility that is unparalleled. Frankly it's one of the most original and exciting artistic projects I've seen in a long time.

[therewillbeblus]

Finished vol. 2 off this morning. Blue is a strange beast, a cocktail of seemingly opposing poles between the density of deep isolative tragedy in mortality and a whimsical refresher to life by engaging in flowing playful fantasy interchangeably. The lack of moving visuals gives this a sensory deprivation feel where the viewer is constantly adjusting to what Jarman is throwing at us, and the piece quickly develops its own internal logic that drowns any notice to the inconsistency of emotions as they blend into their own unique portrait. I was emotionally moved but oddly moreso by the playful moments because it was incredibly optimistic to see (hear*) Jarman’s personality as a creative and spirited artist remain uncompromised even as he approached death. Witnessing the soul of his identity win out against the disintegration of the corporeal is a spiritual experience.

Glitterbug is a bittersweet cap to it all, with a calm Eno score over a mix of home movies and what appears to be deleted scenes of other films. I’m sure this will make some eyes roll and probably validate some members’ decisions not to get the set, but the footage of Tilda Swinton playfully running around the labyrinths outside, laughing and dancing with the camera, is about as sublime as documentary gets for this viewer. If I could make it into a screen saver and watch it forever, I would.

[swo17]

I wasn't able to grab Vol. 1 before it went OOP, but having seen most of those films I may be blasphemous in saying I prefer this second half of his career.

Have you at least seen In the Shadow of the Sun? It was the first thing I thought of during the final section of La flor. Worth paying OOP prices for IMHO

[therewillbeblus]

Have you at least seen In the Shadow of the Sun? It was the first thing I thought of during the final section of La flor. Worth paying OOP prices for IMHO

I haven’t but now I have to. Can’t seem to find vol. 1 many places online beyond a used copy on amazon.uk but I’ll keep my eyes peeled.

[swo17]

There's also this Italian DVD that includes it along with some nice shorts in the same vein. Not Blu-ray though, of course

[AidanKing]

Hopefully, this isn't an inappropriate place to post this, but the Art Fund is asking for donations towards a campaign to preserve Prospect Cottage, Jarman's garden and his artworks sited there. More details here.

[AidanKing]

As of today, the Art Fund campaign is at 92% of its target with five days left. More details here.

[AidanKing]

The Art Fund campaign to save Prospect Cottage has reached its target. The Art Fund will be able to purchase and conserve the cottage and garden and the artworks in the cottage will be transferred to Tate Britain.

[senseabove]

base.com has Vol. 2 for £28 at the moment. No idea if they're shipping out of the UK at the moment, as I already paid a good bit more than that for it, but figured someone would want to know.

[swo17]

base.com is shipping to the U.S.

[therewillbeblus]

base.com has Vol. 2 for £28 at the moment. No idea if they're shipping out of the UK at the moment, as I already paid a good bit more than that for it, but figured someone would want to know.

Same - What a steal! I strongly recommend jumping on this for those who are on the fence.

[dda1996a]

Is it sold out already? I can't find it on their site...

[swo17]

Here

[senseabove]

Sorry—I'm always the guy thinking "how hard could it to be to link the damn thing you're posting about" and here I am not linking to the damn thing. Thanks swo!

[dda1996a]

It's weird, it doesn't show up through the search button but I did find it through Google. Sadly they don't ship to where I live...

[The Pachyderminator]

Revisiting Wittgenstein is a reminder of how beautifully produced this set is as well as how wonderful Jarman is. The 40-minute "Face to Face" interview with Jarman on the Wittgenstein disc - which covers Jarman's sexuality, the course of his career, and his relationship with his father among other topics - is absolutely extraordinary. I don't know whether "charming" or "heartbreaking" is a more appropriate word.

Out of curiosity, can anyone provide a translation for the Russian dialogue from the Soviet administrator starting around the 51-minute mark in response to the question "Have you ever read Trotsky on art?"

[Franz Propp]

Out of curiosity, can anyone provide a translation for the Russian dialogue from the Soviet administrator starting around the 51-minute mark in response to the question "Have you ever read Trotsky on art?"

"No, Professor, I haven't read Trotsky. Trotsky is dangerous. Professor, I don't understand you. You come to Moscow, you want to work on a collective farm, you want me to read Trotsky. But Trotsky is dangerous. Trotsky means Siberia, do you understand? Trotsky means Siberia! Next!"

And the bit before that:
"- But, Professor, it's impossible. What are you talking about? Don't you see? What kind of a collective farmer do you think you'd make? It's absurd!
- What?"

[The Pachyderminator]

Out of curiosity, can anyone provide a translation for the Russian dialogue from the Soviet administrator starting around the 51-minute mark in response to the question "Have you ever read Trotsky on art?"

"No, Professor, I haven't read Trotsky. Trotsky is dangerous. Professor, I don't understand you. You come to Moscow, you want to work on a collective farm, you want me to read Trotsky. But Trotsky is dangerous. Trotsky means Siberia, do you understand? Trotsky means Siberia! Next!"

And the bit before that:
"- But, Professor, it's impossible. What are you talking about? Don't you see? What kind of a collective farmer do you think you'd make? It's absurd!
- What?"

Thank you! I laughed at "Trotsky means Siberia." Poor Ludwig!

[AidanKing]

A couple of Jarman exhibitions taking place in the UK at present: Derek Jarman Protest! in Manchester and Derek Jarman's Modern Nature in Southampton. The catalogue for the Manchester exhibition, published by Thames and Hudson, is very good.

[Orlac]

I remember this ad from when I watched the Derek Jarman version of The Tempest on Channel 4 in 1994 when I was 7! It was unbearably sexy back then! -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wO4oo5QwLSY

and given all the gratuitous male nudity in The Tempest, what a night!