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War Requiem

  • 19891989
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 32m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
870
YOUR RATING
Tilda Swinton in War Requiem (1989)
DramaWar
A movie with no spoken dialogue, it is set against the music and lyrics of Benjamin Britten's "War Requiem" which includes poetry by World War I soldier Wilfred Owen reflecting the horrors o... Read allA movie with no spoken dialogue, it is set against the music and lyrics of Benjamin Britten's "War Requiem" which includes poetry by World War I soldier Wilfred Owen reflecting the horrors of war. There is no linear story or dialogue. It's imagery reflects Owen's story, that of o... Read allA movie with no spoken dialogue, it is set against the music and lyrics of Benjamin Britten's "War Requiem" which includes poetry by World War I soldier Wilfred Owen reflecting the horrors of war. There is no linear story or dialogue. It's imagery reflects Owen's story, that of other soldiers, and a nurse during World War I. It also includes actual footage of contempo... Read all
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
870
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Derek Jarman
  • Writers
    • Derek Jarman
    • Wilfred Owen(poems)
  • Stars
    • Nathaniel Parker
    • Tilda Swinton
    • Laurence Olivier
  • Director
    • Derek Jarman
  • Writers
    • Derek Jarman
    • Wilfred Owen(poems)
  • Stars
    • Nathaniel Parker
    • Tilda Swinton
    • Laurence Olivier
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 9User reviews
    • 15Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos68

    War Requiem (1989)
    War Requiem (1989)
    War Requiem (1989)
    War Requiem (1989)
    War Requiem (1989)
    War Requiem (1989)
    Owen Teale in War Requiem (1989)
    War Requiem (1989)
    War Requiem (1989)
    Nathaniel Parker in War Requiem (1989)
    War Requiem (1989)
    War Requiem (1989)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Nathaniel Parker
    Nathaniel Parker
    • Wilfred Owen
    Tilda Swinton
    Tilda Swinton
    • The Nurse
    Laurence Olivier
    Laurence Olivier
    • The Old Soldier
    Patricia Hayes
    • Mother
    Rohan McCullough
    • Enemy Mother
    Nigel Terry
    Nigel Terry
    • Abraham
    Owen Teale
    Owen Teale
    • The Unknown Soldier
    Sean Bean
    Sean Bean
    • The German Soldier
    Alex Jennings
    Alex Jennings
    • Blinded Soldier
    Claire Davenport
    • Charge Sister…
    Spencer Leigh
    • Soldier 1
    Milo Bell
    • Soldier 2
    Richard Stirling
    • Soldier 3
    Kim Kindersley
    • Soldier 4
    Stuart Turton
    • Soldier 5
    Lucinda Gane
    • Nurse 1
    Beverly Seymour
    • Nurse 2
    Linda Spurrier
    • Nurse 3
    • Director
      • Derek Jarman
    • Writers
      • Derek Jarman
      • Wilfred Owen(poems) (uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This was Laurence Olivier's final acting role before his death on July 11, 1989 at the age of 82.
    • Connections
      Featured in Arena: Derek Jarman - A Portrait (1991)
    • Soundtracks
      War Requiem, Op. 66
      Composed and conducted by Benjamin Britten

      Based on poems by Wilfred Owen

      Soloists: Galina Vishnevskaya, Peter Pears and Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau with The Bach Choir, The London Symphony Orchestra Chorus and Highgate School Choir

      Music played by The Melos Ensemble of London and The London Symphony Orchestra

      Organist: Simon Preston

      Original recording courtesy of The Decca Record Company Limited, England, Catalogue No. 414 383-2

    User reviews9

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Brilliant and Evocative Blend of Music and the Cinematographic Art
    Jarman to a T: Brilliant, atmospheric, imagistic, eccentric, and sometimes homo-erotic. An incredible blend of one of the great 20th century musical works on (or rather against) war and the cinematographic art.

    I've seen this film twice now. Some of the comments given by other reviewers seem to miss the point of the film- it is dark and sometimes jarring. Jarman uses historic footage, color and colorization as a technique to refocus the viewer's eyes and thoughts. Jarman is not interested in narrative so much as building a series of images that take the poem and music to a new place of understanding.

    Perhaps this film is not for everyone- but then I would love to tie every politician to his or her chair and force its viewing.
    helpful•30
    3
    • dcovec
    • Mar 19, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 6, 1989 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Военный реквием
    • Filming locations
      • UK
    • Production companies
      • Anglo International Films
      • British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
      • Liberty Film Sales
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 32 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

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