British Universities Film & Video Council

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Caravaggio

Synopsis
Derek Jarman’s freely dramatised portrait of the controversial seventeenth-century Italian artist Michelangelo da Caravaggio is a powerful meditation on sexuality, criminality and art. The film centres on an imagined love-triangle between Caravaggio, his friend and model Ranuccio, and Ranuccio’s low-life partner Lena. Conjuring some of the artist’s most famous paintings through elaborate tableaux vivants, these works are woven into the fabric of the story, providing a starting point for its characters and narrative episodes. Caravaggio features performances from Nigel Terry, Sean Bean and Tilda Swinton and was the first major film production for costume designer Sandy Powell.

DVD extras include: specially commissioned interviews with Tilda Swinton, Nigel Terry and production designer Christopher Hobbs; feature commentary by cinematographer Gabriel Beristain; flmed and audio interviews with Derek Jarman; gallery of storyboards, production sketches and Derek Jarman’s notebooks; 18-page illustrated booklet including introductory essay by Colin MacCabe and interview with costume designer Sandy Powell
Language
English
Country
Great Britain
Year of release
2006
Year of production
1986
Subjects
Art; Film Studies
Keywords
art - Italian; history of art; painters; Caravaggio, Michelangelo Merisi da

Credits

Director
Derek Jarman

Distribution Formats

Type
DVD
Format
Region 2 PAL
Price
£19.99
Availability
Sale
Duration/Size
89 minutes
Year
2006

Sponsor

Name

BFI Production Board

Distributor

Name

BFI Video

Email
video.films@bfi.org.uk
Web
http://www.bfi.org.uk External site opens in new window
Phone
020 7957 8957
Fax
020 7957 8968
Address
21 Stephen Street
London
W1T 1LN
 

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