(1986) is a British film directed by Derek Jarman. The film is a fictionalized re-telling of the life of Baroque painter Michelangelo Merisi da . Jarman's film is involved with the love triangle of (Nigel Terry), Lena (Tilda Swinton) and Ranuccio (Sean Bean) and dwells upon 's use of street people, drunks and prostitutes as models for his intense, usually religious paintings (see the article on the painter for examples). As with 's use of contemporary dress for his Biblical figures, Jarman depicts his in a bar lit with electric lights or another character using an electronic calculator. The film is notable for its texture and attention to detail, the intense performances and the idiosyncratic humor. By presenting as one of the founders of the chiaroscuro technique, it helped give expression to the legend that was beginning to form around him. Jarman's also suggests that his legend ultimately eclipsed his enormous talent. was the first time that Jarman worked with Tilda Swinton and was her first film role. The film also features Robbie Coltrane, Dexter Fletcher, Spencer Leigh, Michael Gough and Nigel Davenport. The cook Jennifer Paterson was an extra. The production designer was Christopher Hobbs who was also responsible for the copies of paintings seen in the film.

Starring:

Dawn Archibald, Dexter Fletcher, Garry Cooper, Gene October, Imogen Claire, Jack Birkett, John Rogan, Jonathan Hyde, Michael Gough, Nigel Davenport, Nigel Terry, Robbie Coltrane, Sadie Corre, Sean Bean, Simon Fisher-Turner, Spencer Leigh, Terry Downes, Tilda Swinton, Una Brandon-Jones, Vernon Dobtcheff, Zohra Sehgal

Genre:

Biography, Drama, History