Daily Movie Rec 7/12/2023 (Double Feature)

Blue (1993)

"What need of so much news from abroad while all that concerns either life or death is all transacting and at work within me."

Directed by: Derek Jarman

Country: United Kingdom/Japan

Genre: Biography

Plot:

In his final film, losing his eyesight as he was slowly dying of an AIDS-related illness and only able to see in shades of blue, Derek Jarman and a few close friends narrate the end of his life both literally and metaphorically over a static blue image.

Reasons to watch:

From sparse sets to no sets to nothing but a single color; encompassed by the end, a single feeling, the infinite, inescapable wall all life must face. It may test your patience as it's essentially a 76-minute ASMR podcast, but there's never been anything like it. A haunting autobiographical ode that proves even on his death bed, even going blind while working in an art form founded on moving images, Jarman's relentless and unmatched artistry was still breaking new ground and erecting visionary cinematic landmarks that only gain more significance over time. A profound reflection from an essential and underheard voice.

[And that wraps up my incredibly rewarding Jarmanathon. As I've said before, Jarman's films are him, and you form a genuine relationship with the filmmaker by watching his work - similar to the bonds people create with their favorite musicians. The sense of impending loss by the end is very real, especially with how exceedingly personal this final film is. Regardless, experiencing his feature filmography has been one of my brightest cinematic highlights of the past few years, and I've had a lot. His experimentation with film grammar is invaluable and has expanded my understanding of the form. While only one of his films, The Garden (1990), cracked my all-time favorites list, as a predominantly avant-garde director, Jarman might be second only to David Lynch for me. The fact that he could make so many densely experimental films and have them all succeed on one or more levels is kind of mind-blowing. And as with most avant-garde filmmakers, I assume his movies will be even better on repeat viewings when I no longer have to worry about trying to figure them out and can simply immerse myself in the experience. Jarman is without a doubt a "must-watch" for anyone interested in film art and the possibilities of visual language.]

Where to watch:

The Criterion Channel/Kanopy