Customer Reviews

The Garden [VHS]

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"The Garden" is the only (but not last) film I saw by the late gay British director Derek Jarman. I was impressed. Sex and religion, so I've read, seem to be a recurrent theme in Jarman's work. I'm not gonna brag to much about the "daring" portrayal of homosexuality, although this film clearly sought to make a (subtle) statement. To me it was refreshing, sensual, and at some point quite erotic. I myself am not gay, but Jarman's experimental touch poses a unabashed alternative to the recent "gay movies" coming out of Hollywood.

This is my favorite Jarman film. I've seen it many times, and it gets more profound every time I see it. This film and The Last of England are Jarman's two greatest films. Jarman weaves his own personal, incredibly lyrical tapestry while shooting in 8mm, 16mm, video, and 35mm, and editing it into an amazing film. The film is essentially the Passion, except Christ is replaced with a gay couple. It is not told in a narrative sense, but in a meaningful, artistic way. It's Jarman's greatest film. Despite the subject matter here, this film (and Jarman's other work) are not strictly for gay audiences. I'm straight, and I really love Derek's work. I believe Jarman to be the most underrated filmmaker in British history. He usually gets identified as "alternative, gay filmmaker", but he's so much more than that. I hope this film will be released on DVD soon.