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Wittgenstein (film)
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox film
| name = Wittgenstein
| image = Wittgenstein (film).jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = Derek Jarman
| producer =
| writer =
| starring =
| music = Jan Latham-Koenig
| cinematography = James Welland
| editing = Budge Tremlett
| studio =
| distributor =
| released =
| runtime = 72 minutes
| country =
| language =
| budget = 300,000
| gross = $40,029
}}
'Wittgenstein' is a 1993 experimental comedy-drama film directed by Derek Jarman and produced by Tariq Ali. An international co-production of the United Kingdom and Japan, the film is loosely based on the life story as well as the philosophical thinking of the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein. The adult Wittgenstein is played by Karl Johnson.
The original screenplay by literary critic Terry Eagleton was heavily rewritten during pre-production and shooting by Jarman, radically altering the style and structure, although retaining much of Eagleton's dialogue. The story is not played out in a traditional setting, but rather against a black backdrop within which the actors and key props are placed, as if in a theatre setting.
The film was originally part of a series of 12 films on the life and ideas of the philosopher, produced by Ali on behalf of Channel Four. Only four of the scripts got commissioned: 'Socrates' by Howard Brenton, 'Spinoza' by Ali, 'Locke' by David Edgar and 'Wittgenstein' by Eagleton. 'Spinoza' was filmed and directed by Chris Spencer as 'Spinoza : The Apostle of Reason'. 'Citizen Locke' was filmed and directed by Agnieszka Piotrowska. These were transmitted in 1994 as 52-minute television films.Rowland Wymer
Plot
The film, in a series of sketches, depicts Wittgenstein's life from boyhood, through the first World War period to his Cambridge professorship and association with Bertrand Russell and John Maynard Keynes. The emphasis is on the exposition of his ideas and depicts his characteristics as a homosexual, an intuitive, moody, proud, and perfectionistic thinker, and a genius.
Principal cast
* Clancy Chassay as young Wittgenstein
* Karl Johnson as adult Wittgenstein
* Nabil Shaban as Martian
* Michael Gough as Bertrand Russell
* Tilda Swinton as Lady Ottoline Morrell
* John Quentin as Maynard Keynes
* Kevin Collins as Johnny
* Lynn Seymour as Lydia Lopokova
Script
* Eagleton, Terry (1993). '[https://books.google.com/books?id=lMtZAAAAMAAJ&hl=en Wittgenstein: The Terry Eagleton Script, The Derek Jarman Film]'. London, England: British Film Institute, pp. 151.
Award
* Teddy Award for best feature film, 1993Derek Jarman
Reception
Critical reception for the film has been generally positive and the movie holds a rating of 83% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 6 reviews. Derek Elley of 'Variety' described it as an "immaculately lensed, intellectual joke" with a "gay subtext".
See also
* List of avant-garde films of the 1990s
References
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