Caravaggio (1986)

Director:

Derek Jarman

Writers:

Nicholas Ward Jackson (story)
Derek Jarman
(more)

Release Date:

29 August 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | History

Plot:

A retelling of the life of the celebrated 17th-century painter through his brilliant, nearly blasphemous paintings and his flirtations with the underworld. |

Plot Keywords:

Painter | Painting | Knife Fight | Murder | Italian Culture

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
Jonathan Hyde	...	Baglione
Spencer Leigh	...	Jerusaleme
Emile Nicolaou	...	Young Jerusaleme
Gene October	...	Model Peeling Fruit
Cindy Oswin	...	Lady Elizabeth
John Rogan	...	Vatican Official
Zohra Segal	...	Jerualeme's Grandmother (as Zohra Sehgal)
Tilda Swinton	...	Lena
Lucien Taylor	...	Boy with Guitar
Nigel Terry	...	Caravaggio
Simon Fisher-Turner	...	Fra Fillipo (as Simon Turner)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kevin Hull	...	Roman in toga (uncredited)
Chelita Secunda	...	(uncredited)
Cerith Wyn Evans	...	Altar boy (uncredited)

Directed by
Derek Jarman

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Suso Cecchi D'Amico		uncredited
Nicholas Ward Jackson		story (as Nicholas Ward-Jackson)
Derek Jarman

Produced by
Nicholas Ward Jackson	....	executive producer (as Nicholas Ward-Jackson)
Colin MacCabe	....	executive producer
James Mackay	....	development producer
Sarah Radclyffe	....	producer

Original Music by
Simon Fisher-Turner

Cinematography by
Gabriel Beristain

Film Editing by
George Akers

Casting by
Debbie McWilliams

Production Design by
Christopher Hobbs

Art Direction by
Michael Buchanan		(as Mike Buchanan)

Costume Design by
Sandy Powell

Makeup Department
Morag Ross	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Jill Pack	....	executive in charge of production
Sarah Wilson	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Pat Aldersley	....	third assistant director
Simon Moseley	....	second assistant director
Glynn Purcell	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Christopher Hobbs	....	painter
Josh Jones	....	stagehand
Annie La Paz	....	scenic artist
Lucy Morahan	....	scenic artist
Tim Youngman	....	property master

Sound Department
Peter Maxwell	....	dubbing mixer
Peter Maxwell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Billy McCarthy	....	sound recordist
George Richards	....	boom swinger
Budge Tremlett	....	dubbing editor (as 'Budge' Tremlett)
Steve Hancock	....	sound camera operator (uncredited)

Stunts
Jim Dowdall	....	stunt coordinator
Gareth Milne	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Noel Balbirnie	....	focus puller
Phil Bough	....	second assistant camera
Tony Hare	....	sparks
Tony Haughey	....	grip
Mike Laye	....	still photographer
John Mathieson	....	clapper loader
Larry S. Prinz	....	gaffer
Steve Tickner	....	camera operator: second unit

Casting Department
Simon Fisher-Turner	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Annie Symons	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Alastair Bates	....	assistant editor
Nicola Black	....	assistant editor
Anuree De Silva	....	assistant editor
Matthew Whiteman	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Chi-Chi Nwanoku	....	musician: double bass
Mary Philips	....	music assistant
Richard Preston	....	music engineer

Other crew
Stephen Masters	....	titles designer
Heather Storr	....	continuity

Thanks
Suso Cecchi D'Amico	....	thanks

Production Companies

• British Film Institute (BFI)

Distributors

• Cinevista (1986) (USA) (theatrical)
• Dolmen (2004) (Italy) (DVD)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2007) (Australia) (DVD)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2011) (Australia) (video) (VOD)
• Zeitgeist Films

Other Companies

• Berry Street Studios  music recorded at
• Film Lighting Services  lighting
• Frameline Productions  titles
• Good Eating Company  catering

Also Known As:

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

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

Filming Locations:

Limehouse Studios, Limehouse, London, England, UK

Company:

British Film Institute (BFI)

Trivia:

Michael Gough was fourth choice for the role of Del Monte.

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: A typewriter is used, a saxophone is played, a train and steamship hooter are heard. In addition one of the characters plays with a (very advanced for the time of the movie) credit card-sized calculator with beeping buttons. These items are included deliberately as a stylistic decision of the filmmakers, not "goofs" of people unaware of the absence of these items in the 1500s and 1600s.

Quotes:

Caravaggio:[to Ranuccio] Give me your hand.
[puts a ring on Ranucio's hand]
Caravaggio:For eternity and a day.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Incident at Loch Ness (2004)

Soundtrack:

MISSA LUX ET ORGIO

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.