Caravaggio
Zeitgeist Films (1986)
Biography, Drama, Queer Themes/Interest, History
In Collection
#548
7*
Seen ItYes
(9/7/2016 Home)
795975110136
IMDB   6.6
89 mins UK / English
DVD  Region 1
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
Tilda Swinton Lena
Lucien Taylor Boy with Guitar
Nigel Terry Caravaggio
Simon Fisher-Turner Fra Fillipo
Zohra Sehgal Jerusaleme's Grandmother
Director/Choreographer
Derek Jarman
Producer Sarah Radclyffe
Colin MacCabe
Nicholas Ward Jackson
Writer/Composer Derek Jarman
Suso Cecchi d'Amico
Nicholas Ward Jackson
Cinematography Gabriel Beristain
Music Simon Fisher-Turner


As influential Italian artist Caravaggio dies in exile in 1610, he recalls his short life, from his childhood to his initial artistic failures to his later triumphs as he catches the eye of a sympathetic cardinal to his destructive relationship with a dashing gambler.
Edition Details
No. of Discs/Tapes 1

Notes
I am far from being either an art or a film historian, and perhaps because of this I am missing some subtleties in the narrative – I believe that a movie ought to stand on its own to those who are thoughtful but not necessarily academics –
Visually, the film is very beautiful and enjoyable to watch – Director Derek Jarman and Cinematography Gabriel Beristain have framed the scenes as Caravaggio does his paintings –
Narratively it is basically a melodrama where the painter Caravaggio is part of a love triangle with the shady Ranuccio and a prostitute Lena – Both love Lena, although the extent that Lena’s love is reciprocal is ambiguous – Both men love each other – There are subplots, mostly involving the Roman church, a Cardinal who is Caravaggio’s patron, and various other dalliances and intrigues –
Jarman views Caravaggio as gay, or at least bisexual – There is apparently little evidence of this one way or the other in the scant historical record of Caravaggio’s personal life – Jarman, who in addition to being a filmmaker, is an artist and openly gay, says he sees it principally in the body of his work (gaydar?) – Little matter –
I highly recommend Jim Clark’s comprehensive review found in the links section of this page.