Educational Media Reviews Online

Andy Kimpton-Nye’s Derek Jarman Life as Art is the first biopic of independent British filmmaker and writer, Derek Jarman. Due to some poor footage and editing choices, Kimpton-Nye’s sensitive, well-researched portrait of Jarman cannot be recommended without reservation.

Derek Jarman directed more than 50 films and videos over a 23-year period, including The Tempest (1979), Caravaggio (1986), Edward II (1992) and Wittgenstein (1993). Originally trained in the arts and set design, Jarman experimented richly with the film medium, particularly super 8, and early on incorporated gay themes and homoeroticism into his films. Daring and controversial, Jarman’s work was well reviewed, and he was considered a genius by many. Between his HIV positive diagnosis in 1986 and his death from AIDS in 1994, Jarman began producing music videos and returning to his roots in super 8 film.

Life as Art includes photos, film clips and many interview snippets with those close to Jarman, including actress Tilda Swinton, Chistopher Hobbes, Lames MacKay, Jarman’s sister and others. Some of these interviews could have been eliminated without damaging the script, or decreasing one’s esteem for Jarman. Kimpton-Nye annoyingly sequenced some poor quality super-8 video cutaways after talking head shots of the interviewees. These transitions didn’t work and made this reviewer want to shriek.

This film is recommended with reservations. If you must see a film about Derek Jarman, then it’s the only choice. It’s better to see Jarman’s films in the original, read some biographies, and visit some web sites. Life as Art could be included on a supplementary viewing list for college cinema studies and gay studies students, but it would not be a good use of class time, unless one skipped around to see specific clips.