Wittgenstein ***½ (1993, Karl Johnson, Michael Gough, Tilda Swinton, Clancy Chassay, John Quentin) – Classic Movie Review 6495

Director Derek Jarman’s 1993 film is a lively, humorous portrait of the gay Viennese-born, Cambridge-educated philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889-1951), one of the most influential philosophers of the 20th-century, exploring his life, works and key ideas. They are conveyed with a typical Jarman-esque mix of bizarre comedy, striking images and brightly hued costumes.

Perhaps the drift of the ideas is sometimes hard to follow. But there is no doubting the appeal of the visuals and the film’s brilliant cleverness. Karl Johnson is a strong presence and a remarkable lookalike as Wittgenstein.

Among the dramatis personae are a man (Nabil Shaban) from Mars, young Ludwig Wittgenstein (Clancy Chassay), an effete Maynard Keynes (John Quentin), a dandy Bertrand Russell (Michael Gough) and his mistress Lady Ottoline Morrell (Tilda Swinton).

Young Ludwig Wittgenstein declares in a Wildean kind of way: ‘If people did not sometimes do silly things, nothing intelligent would ever get done.’

Also in the cast are Kevin Collins as Johnny, Sally Dexter, Jill Balcon, Gina Marsh, Vanya Del Borgo, Ben Scantlebury, Howard Sooley, David Radzinowicz, Jan Latham-Koenig, Tony Peake, Roger Cook, Kevin Collins, Lynn Seymour and Layla Alexander Garrett.

Backed by Channel 4 and the BFI, this 75-minute avant-garde film is written by Derek Jarman, Terry Eagleton and Ken Butler, shot by James Welland, produced by Ben Gibson, Takashi Asai and Tariq Ali, scored by Jan Latham-Koenig and designed by Annie La Paz.

Literary critic Eagleton wrote the original screenplay, which was much rewritten by Jarman during pre-production and filming, changing style and structure but largely keeping Eagleton’s dialogue. It is shot against a black backdrop as if on a theatre stage on which the actors and key props are placed.

It won the Teddy Award for best feature film, 1993.

Chassay played young Wilfred Owen in Jarman’s War Requiem (1989). He has worked as a freelance correspondent in Beirut, Lebanon, since July 2006.

RIP Kevin Collins [Keith Collins], Derek Jarman’s long-time partner, who also appears in Jarman’s Edward II and The Garden, and was an additional costume maker for Orlando.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 6495

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com