War Requiem [20th Anniversary Edition]

Directed by Derek Jarman

Written by Wilfred Owen (Poet) and Composed and Conducted by Benjamin Britten

Cast

Nathaniel Parker
Owen Teale
Laurence Olivier
Tilda Swinton
Sean Bean
Harvey Cooper
Antony Gabriel
Alex Jennings

'JARMAN'S FINEST ACHIEVEMENT' Philip French THE OBSERVER

Synopsis

Derek Jarman creates a visual evocation of the legendary original recording of Benjamin Britten’s choral masterpiece which blended the Latin Mass of the Dead with the poignant poetry of Wilfred Owen, Britain’s greatest chronicler of the Great War. Dramatised scenes featuring spell-binding performances from an extraordinary cast are interwoven with cinematic, poetic images and harrowing archive footage which all serve to recreate the horrors of 20th century wars - the loss of innocence, the unbearable suffering, the nightmares, the tragic waste of life. Critically-acclaimed on its release, Derek Jarman’s War Requiem is perhaps the visionary director’s greatest film. As a testament to the futility of war it is a unique, unforgettable poignant and haunting experience.

Reviews

Portrayed without dialogue from the principal players to the accompaniment of Benjamin Britten's masterwork, the 1961 oratorio War Requiem, this film is a parade of images - brutal, exquisite, erotic, and painterly. Avant-garde director Derek Jarman presents a hallucinatory vision of war, drawing on the life and verse of WWI poet Wilfred Owen, who was killed on a French battlefield two weeks before the Armistice. Owen's preoccupations include the Christ-like martyrdom of soldiers, the interplay of sexuality and death, the pity and horror evoked by the mutilation of young bodies.

Primarily seen as an anti-war film of surpassing power, War Requiem has also been interpreted as a metaphorical treatment of the devastation of youth by AIDS. The soundtrack recording of Britten's music is by the London Symphony Orchestra with soloists including Peter Pears and Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau.

DVD Special features

Remastered from a new High Defintion transfer.
Remastered audio of original Decca recording .
Requiem For Jarman- recollections on the making of the film with producer Don Boyd and stars Tilda Swinton and Nathaniel Parker
War Requiem Live In Liverpool- A feature on the Royal Philharmonic's 2008 performance of Britten's masterpiece in Liverpool Cathedral.
Audio commentary with producer Don Boyd

Technical Information
Released date	November 10th, 2008
Opening Venue
Opening Venue tel.
Aspect Ratio	Anamorphic Widescreen 16:9
Main Soundtrack	PCM Stereo
Language	English
Subtitles
Region Code	2 (Europe, Japan, South Africa)
Disc Format	PAL
Duration	89 minutes

United Kingdom/1989/Colour

Additional Information

Laurence Olivier's cameo in this film was his last screen appearance.

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