Caravaggio
1986 Directed by Derek Jarman
Synopsis
Derek Jarman's CARAVAGGIO is a biography of painter Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, the enfant terrible of the Italian Renaissance. Told in flashback as the dying artist recalls his short life, the story follows Caravaggio (Nigel Terry) through his childhood, his initial artistic failures, his later successes as he attracts the attention of a sympathetic cardinal, and his destructive relationship with a handsome gambler.
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Breathtaking to look at, Caravaggio spends most of its time showing the painter painting his subjects. I liked that, few films actually show the work being done - -let alone the models standing as still as possible (that's what they're paid for, the painter reminds them.) Imagine the steps in recreating the set up for these famous works of art! Art imitating life, imitating art. Often you see the painting, and the whole set feels a part of it, like the whole film is a flashy sensual dream. Or an artist's portfolio.
No story arcs, little dialogue. But so visually inspired. People on IMDB complained of its slow pace, but it comes off as more meditative than boring. Close ups…
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A great film about how life can not only inspire art, but also imitate it in turn. It's strange to think that a biopic whose content deliberately veers away from any biographical accuracy can be as effective and fantastic as this. With all the re-enactments of Caravaggio's paintings throughout the film, it's as visually sumptuous as 'Barry Lyndon' a decade before.
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"A very beautiful looking and sounding film about the life of Caravaggio, which was too arty for this philistine."
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Life of the c16th artist, with deliberate anachronistic touches & strong regional British accents. Attractive & painterly, although perhaps a touch too static.
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I don’t know what is fact and what is fiction with this. But it is beautiful. And strange. I just wish it had told more of Caravaggio’s actual story, and not relied so much on fantasy.Caravaggio’s life was fantastic enough as it is. Still, richly beautifully photographed.
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A great film about how life can not only inspire art, but also imitate it in turn. It's strange to think that a biopic whose content deliberately veers away from any biographical accuracy can be as effective and fantastic as this. With all the re-enactments of Caravaggio's paintings throughout the film, it's as visually sumptuous as 'Barry Lyndon' a decade before.
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Breathtaking to look at, Caravaggio spends most of its time showing the painter painting his subjects. I liked that, few films actually show the work being done - -let alone the models standing as still as possible (that's what they're paid for, the painter reminds them.) Imagine the steps in recreating the set up for these famous works of art! Art imitating life, imitating art. Often you see the painting, and the whole set feels a part of it, like the whole film is a flashy sensual dream. Or an artist's portfolio.
No story arcs, little dialogue. But so visually inspired. People on IMDB complained of its slow pace, but it comes off as more meditative than boring. Close ups…
-
"A very beautiful looking and sounding film about the life of Caravaggio, which was too arty for this philistine."
-
Life of the c16th artist, with deliberate anachronistic touches & strong regional British accents. Attractive & painterly, although perhaps a touch too static.
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