Caravaggio (1986)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Derek Jarman

Writers:

Nicholas Ward Jackson (story)
Derek Jarman (writer)

Release Date:

29 August 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | History

Plot Keywords:

Drowning | Scene Based On Painting | One Word Title | Homoerotic Fight | Homosexual History

Awards:

3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Noam Almaz	...	Boy Caravaggio
Dawn Archibald	...	Pipo
Sean Bean	...	Ranuccio
Jack Birkett	...	The Pope
Sadie Corre	...	Princess Collona
Una Brandon-Jones	...	Weeping Woman
Imogen Claire	...	Lady with the Jewels
Robbie Coltrane	...	Scipione Borghese
Garry Cooper	...	Davide
Lol Coxhill	...	Old Priest
Nigel Davenport	...	Giustiniani
Vernon Dobtcheff	...	Art Lover
Terry Downes	...	Bodyguard
Dexter Fletcher	...	Young Caravaggio
Michael Gough	...	Cardinal Del Monte

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Spain:18 | Australia:M | Finland:K-12 | UK:18 | Hong Kong:IIB

Filming Locations:

Limehouse Studios, Limehouse, London, England, UK

Company:

British Film Institute (BFI)

Trivia:

Tilda Swinton's debut.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: (At 81:00) When Ranuccio confesses about his crime, there is a truck behind Caravaggio.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Jubilee: A Time Less Golden (2003) (V)

Soundtrack:

EL NINO

Poetic and haunting film

Derek Jarman has crafted a beautiful and unique work of art in "Caravaggio". Perhaps the fact that I have a great love for the work of the real Michelangelo Caravaggio, influences my judgment just a bit; It was quite enjoyable to see the paintings come to life, and to witness how they might have actually been created. In fact, much of Jarmans poetic film has the look of a lush, living painting. There is much to admire here besides the aesthetics; the talented and beautiful cast, led by Nigel Terry, the intense-looking Sean Bean, as Ranuccio, and the elegant Tilda Swinton, as Lena; the woman loved by two very passionate, and tormented men. The acting is all around excellent, but Nigel Terry as Michelangelo really stands out. He is great to watch, and brings life to a man the world knows not so much about. Also actor Dexter Fletcher was quite funny and likable in his portrayal of the younger Caravaggio. More than a historical, biographical account of the painter, this is more the study of a classic love triangle. Caravaggio's models were mostly street people, many of them also criminals, and it seemed that he often became personally involved with his subjects. His love for 'Lena' seems to be as strong, if not stronger, than his love for 'Ranuccio'. And this divided love has tragic consequences, for all involved. I didn't find "Caravaggio" an overly gay film, as the subject wasn't focused on obsessively, like other films of this nature tend to do. The love affair between Lena and Michelangelo was given as much attention as the relationship between him and Ranuccio. Therefore those who might feel a little uncomfortable with the subject matter, need not be, as it is actually quite accessible. Recommended, especially for admirers of the painter Caravaggio. As mentioned earlier, there are scenes that are modeled exactly on the paintings. To see these come alive is really something to behold. There is a new region 2 DVD from Germany that features the most beautiful transfer I have ever seen of any film. It comes close to "High Definition" quality, I recommend this as well.