Blue (1993/I)

Director:

Derek Jarman

Writer:

Derek Jarman (writer)

Release Date:

3 December 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Plot:

Against a plain, unchanging blue screen, a densely interwoven soundtrack of voices, sound effects and...

Plot Keywords:

AIDS | Terminal Illness | Color In Title | One Word Title | Writer Director

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

John Quentin	...	(voice)
Nigel Terry	...	(voice)
Derek Jarman	...	(voice)
Tilda Swinton	...	(voice)

Also Known As:

Derek Jarman's Blue (UK) (complete title)

Runtime:

USA:79 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 | Hong Kong:IIA

Company:

Basilisk Communications

Trivia:

The lines "Our name will be forgotten in time, no-one will remember our work [etcetera]", and "our lives will run like sparks through the stubble" are adapted from the book in the Biblical Apocrypha "The Wisdom of Solomon", Chapters two and three respectively.

Quotes:

Terry, Nigel: You say to the boy "Open your eyes". When he opens his eyes and sees the light, you make him cry out, saying "Oh, Blue, come forth! Oh, Blue, arise! Oh, Blue, ascend! Oh, Blue, come in!"

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "The Adam and Joe Show: (#2.2)" (1997)

Soundtrack:

Durutti Column

Nothing

There is nothing I can write here that hasn't been written before about this film. A masterpiece. A seemingly 'dull' film. A brave and courageous final farewell from a great man.

Art for Arts Sake? Ars Gratia Artis? No. Absolutely not. This is a film made by a dying man while practically on his deathbed. His sight robbed of him, what more could an experimental film-maker do?

A powerful script telling of his life ('I'm sitting in a cafe....'), the things around him (the cyclist who nearly knocks him over to then hurl abuse at him), his lifestyle (I am a cock sucking straight acting lesbian man, I am a not-gay).

Jarman's Voice Over is the most provocative text about one's own death I know of. Of course, he knew he was dying. His doctors told him he was dying. He goes into graphic details of his medications, his symptoms, his pains. Never again can a film maker describe their own death in such a way, Jarman has done it and done it brilliantly.

The Blueness also plays a part. After a few minutes I felt angry, annoyed at having to stare at a screen of blue. I tried looking at the floor, closing my eyes, anything to avoid the blue. But I kept looking back.

A Masterpiece. Simple as that.