A review of The Last of England (1987) directed by Derek Jarman
If I can I would like to write about my favorite films, in the fears more than hopes of anyone deciding to check out the things I mention repeatedly.
The Last of England is an experimental film, not a narrative, it's using collage techniques and music video aesthetics at times to convey a hellscape during a time when Margaret Thatcher governed the land. This film wasn't a fan of the Iron Lady.
In the first chunk of the film there's many a moment where one or 2 things happen that make a big impression on me, the quotes, for example there's the beginning of Allan Ginsberg's Howl there, and the visuals accompanying them like a homeless boy shooting up heroin in a very dingy looking environment. And then the music, one moment in particular I like is a stomping boot, really loud followed by heart melting string orchestra music.
There's other more electrifying moments like when you're hearing a Hitler speech, while seeing a rapid fire collage of a bonfire and a guy guzzling down a bottle of vodka.
One scene I don't like after repeated viewings is some flamboyant dancer guy but it soon moves into one of the most heart wrenching sequences where a naked homeless guy rummages around in huge mounds of trash while you're hearing a mix of a jewelry sales thing and a televangelist.
What I like most of all in this film is the last 15 or so minutes, which begins with Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance, which blends into a crazy wedding ceremony, which then blends into Tilda Swinton the bride, shredding her dress in front of the sunrise, or sunset, how her frame moves and when the sun hits your eye is like an exploding, you're hearing explosions too, and some whirling dervish music with an amazing vocal, and then we see some people on a small boat, with some Psycho shower scene sounds. Ending imo is 10/10
The Last of England is an experimental film, not a narrative, it's using collage techniques and music video aesthetics at times to convey a hellscape during a time when Margaret Thatcher governed the land. This film wasn't a fan of the Iron Lady.
In the first chunk of the film there's many a moment where one or 2 things happen that make a big impression on me, the quotes, for example there's the beginning of Allan Ginsberg's Howl there, and the visuals accompanying them like a homeless boy shooting up heroin in a very dingy looking environment. And then the music, one moment in particular I like is a stomping boot, really loud followed by heart melting string orchestra music.
There's other more electrifying moments like when you're hearing a Hitler speech, while seeing a rapid fire collage of a bonfire and a guy guzzling down a bottle of vodka.
One scene I don't like after repeated viewings is some flamboyant dancer guy but it soon moves into one of the most heart wrenching sequences where a naked homeless guy rummages around in huge mounds of trash while you're hearing a mix of a jewelry sales thing and a televangelist.
What I like most of all in this film is the last 15 or so minutes, which begins with Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance, which blends into a crazy wedding ceremony, which then blends into Tilda Swinton the bride, shredding her dress in front of the sunrise, or sunset, how her frame moves and when the sun hits your eye is like an exploding, you're hearing explosions too, and some whirling dervish music with an amazing vocal, and then we see some people on a small boat, with some Psycho shower scene sounds. Ending imo is 10/10
[image/video - please log in to see this content]
46-50, M