Derek Jarman’s films explore the possibilities and limitations of same-sex love and self-expression during various historical eras, ranging from ancient Egypt to present times. His work covers a millennium of sexual repression and efforts to escape this repression. Jarman provides us with a cinematic history of people whose homoerotic passions had a major impact on western civilization in religion, art, politics, philosophy, and war. This book provides historical background information on each of Jarman’s 15 scripts and films. The chapters are
program notes
to his films from a historical perspective. An interpretation of Jarman’s intentions, gleaned from the director’s writings and writings about him, is also provided. This work reveals Jarman’s importance as a keen student of the limits of historical knowledge, and delineates the role of history in inspiring change or preserving inertia in the present struggle against homophobia.