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The Angelic Conversation (1985)

Not Rated | | Drama | 28 February 1987 (Japan)
The Angelic Conversation Poster
An unseen woman recites Shakespeare's sonnets - fourteen in all - as a man wordlessly seeks his heart's desire. The photography is stop-motion, the music is ethereal, the scenery is often ... See full summary »

Director:

Derek Jarman

Writer:

William Shakespeare (sonnets)

Stars:

Paul Reynolds, Phillip Williamson, Judi Dench | See full cast & crew »
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Cast

Complete credited cast:
Paul Reynolds Paul Reynolds
Phillip Williamson Phillip Williamson
Judi Dench ... Shakespeare's Sonnets read by (voice)
Dave Baby Dave Baby
Timothy Burke Timothy Burke
Simon Costin Simon Costin
Christopher Hobbs Christopher Hobbs
Philip McDonald Philip McDonald
Toby Mott Toby Mott
Steve Randall Steve Randall
Robert Sharp Robert Sharp
Tony Wood Tony Wood
See full cast »
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Storyline

An unseen woman recites Shakespeare's sonnets - fourteen in all - as a man wordlessly seeks his heart's desire. The photography is stop-motion, the music is ethereal, the scenery is often elemental: boulders and smaller rocks, the sea, smoke or fog, and a garden. The man is on an odyssey following his love. But he must first, as the sonnet says, know what conscience is. So, before he can be united with his love, he must purify himself. He does so, bathing a tattooed figure (an angel, perhaps) and humbling himself in front of this being. He also prepares himself with water and through his journey and his meditations. Finally, he is united with his fair friend. Written by <jhailey@hotmail.com>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

low budget film | love | sonnet | british renaissance | gay | See All (18) »

Genres:

Drama

Certificate:

Not Rated | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

Add content advisory for parents »
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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 February 1987 (Japan) See more »

Also Known As:

Angelic Conversation See more »

Filming Locations:

Montacute House, Montacute, Somerset, England, UK See more »
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Box Office

Budget:

£35,000 (estimated)
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Channel Four Films, British Film Institute (BFI) See more »
Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in Derek Jarman: Life as Art (2004) See more »

Soundtracks

How to Destroy Angels
Performed by Coil
See more »

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User Reviews

 
Like a painting in motion
22 November 2003 | by LaFeeChartreuse – See all my reviews

This is possibly the most visually beautiful film I've ever seen.

Like many of Jarman's works, it has no conventional narrative, but a montage of images, music and voice. The film was made by putting the original footage through a variety of different visual processes which end up giving it the look of an oil painting in motion -- I've never seen anything quite like it. The hypnotic (and frequently homoerotic) visual imagery coupled with ethereal, ambient music and a female voice reading Shakespeare's love sonnets is almost trance-inducing -- you seriously feel like you're in an altered state of consciousness by the end of it.

Highly recommended for those who enjoy experimental/art films, but those who don't will probably find the lack of a conventional plot confusing.
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