WITTGENSTEIN

UK, 1993, 75 minutes, Colour.
Karl Johnson, Michael Gough, Tilda Swinton.
Directed by Derek Jarman.

Wittgenstein was one of the last films made by celebrated British director, Derek Jarman, who also collaborated in the screenplay. Jarman was a set designer (The Devils) who moved into experimental short films with avant-garde modernist touches. He also made, in the late 70s, a version of Shakespeare's The Tempest. During the 80s he made different kinds of films, a collage documentary with pessimistic overtones, The Last of England, as well as a biography and study of the Italian artist Caravaggio. (*I could spell that) He also made an interesting version of Christopher Marlowe's Edward II.

Derek Jarman campaigned for gay rights, especially in his film, The Garden. This also gave a religious dimension to his battle, also exemplified in his Latin-spoken portrait of St Sebastian, Sebastiane. Gay motifs and characters are a constant in his film. This may have been one of the reasons for his interest in the Austrian philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein. He explores Wittgenstein's life, his philosophy, his skills as a lecturer and one of the thinkers of the early 20th century, situating him in the British cultural world with Tilda Swinton as Lady Ottoline Morrell, Michael Gough as Bertrand Russell and John Quentin as John Maynard Keynes.

Karl Johnson (Ariel in The Tempest) portrays the tormented philosopher, devoted to his academic world, tormented by his sexual orientation.

The film is highly stylised, acted with vignettes of Wittgenstein's life on black curtain sets. Nevertheless, the brief film builds up a portrait of its central character, some insights into his life and career as well as the context in which he worked.

1.One of the last films by Derek Jarman? His visual and cinematic style? The use of sound stages? The impact of the film, its theme, its brief length?

2.The set design, the sound stages, the black background? The variety of use of colour? Framing devices? Dramatic devices for suggesting time, place, the passing of time? The musical score? The piano?

3.Wittgenstein and his reputation as a philosopher? His influence in Europe, in the United Kingdom? His family background, philosophical background? Wittgenstein as a man? A European who opted for Britain? His family? His humour and lack of humour? Germanic culture? The build-up to his illness and death? The revelation of his sexuality and his willingness or unwillingness to admit it? Its tormenting him? The portrait of a philosopher?

4.Wittgenstein as a boy, the opening of the film, a precocious young boy, his drama and interpretation, the narrative, his dress and helmet? His perspective on his later life? The boy growing into a youth, to an adult? The family background and its influence? Study? His interest in inventions, engines? And his interest in the movies, especially American movies - with Betty Hutton? The contrast of this film taste with his philosophical and abstract interests?

5.Wittgenstein as an adult, a serious adult? Plans for his study and his life? Living in Austria, the end of the Austro- Hungarian empire? Study? The outbreak of the war? His going to Russia and his idealism? Later disillusionment? Going to Norway and the seclusion? His moving to England, to Manchester and the industrial world? His moving to Cambridge and academia? His friendship with Bertrand Russell, with John Maynard Keynes? The film showing his lectures, the experts listening to him, the students and their questions? His writing, publication and his reputation with his book? His decline, his illness? And the comfort of the movies? His reflections about American genres, especially the westerns?

6.The portrait of Bertrand Russell, in himself, as a philosopher, courses, the first world war? His support of Wittgenstein and encouragement? His relationship with Lady Otteline? The Bloomsbury set? His own publications? His admiration for Wittgenstein's book? The discussions with Keynes? The discussions with the students? The portrait of Lady Otteline, her relationship with Russell, her soirees, her interest in Wittgenstein?

7.The background of Keynes and his economic theories and influence? His support of Wittgenstein? His homosexuality, his relationship with Johnny? Sexual encounters? Support of Wittgenstein in his illness?

8.Johnny, his relationship with Keynes? With Russell? Amongst the students? The relationship with Wittgenstein - and enabling Wittgenstein to admit his sexual orientation to himself?

9.The portrait of the Wittgenstein family, their involvement in World War I, stretcher bearers? The loss of a limb? The piano player? The contrast with Austro- Hungarian empire of the late 19th century with Britain in the early 20th?

10.The device of the green man, the man from Mars? His questioning Wittgenstein? Playing with him, logic-chopping with him? The effect of this device?

11.The skill of Derek Jarman in making an interesting film about a philosopher and, even, about philosophy? The insight into the philosopher and his personality and method? The insights into his study of language, ideas, abstractions, the possibility of religion?