Delphinium: A Childhood Portrait of Derek Jarman
Encyclopedia
Delphinium: A Childhood Portrait of Derek Jarman is a 2009 semi-experimental short film based on the early years, work, and legacy of Derek Jarman
. The film was written and directed by Matthew Mishory and produced by Stephanie Frank, Edward Singletary, Jr., Joe Wihl, Lili Wilde, and Matthew Mishory. It was executive produced by Andreas Andrea. Keith Collins, Jarman's surviving muse, participated in the making of the film. Jonathan Caouette
served as a creative advisor. It is the first narrative work about the life of Derek Jarman
.
The film has been described as a "stylized and lyrical coming-of-age portrait of legendary painter, filmmaker, and activist Derek Jarman
's artistic, sexual, and political awakening in post-War England." It began its festival run in September 2009 with screenings at the 2009 Raindance Film Festival
in London, the Reykjavik International Film Festival
, in Iceland, the Olympia Film Festival in Washington, the 22nd MIX NYC
Film Festival in Chelsea, and Microvision's ShowMX series at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival
. It won the Eastman Kodak Grand Prize for Best Short Film at the 2010 United States Super 8 and DV Film Festival.
. The soundtrack also includes classical works by Frederick Chopin and William Byrd
.
, Australian actor Jeremiah Dupre as The Groundskeeper, Keith Collins as The Man in the Window, Edward Singletary, Jr., as The Headmaster, and Dalilah Rain as Betts Jarman, with queer icon Clint Catalyst
as The Interviewee.
.
Derek Jarman
Michael Derek Elworthy Jarman was an English film director, stage designer, diarist, artist, gardener and author.-Life:...
. The film was written and directed by Matthew Mishory and produced by Stephanie Frank, Edward Singletary, Jr., Joe Wihl, Lili Wilde, and Matthew Mishory. It was executive produced by Andreas Andrea. Keith Collins, Jarman's surviving muse, participated in the making of the film. Jonathan Caouette
Jonathan Caouette
Jonathan Caouette is an American film director, writer, editor and actor. Caouette is the director and editor of Tarnation , an autobiographical documentary, and director of All Tomorrow's Parties about a cult music festival.-Films:...
served as a creative advisor. It is the first narrative work about the life of Derek Jarman
Derek Jarman
Michael Derek Elworthy Jarman was an English film director, stage designer, diarist, artist, gardener and author.-Life:...
.
The film has been described as a "stylized and lyrical coming-of-age portrait of legendary painter, filmmaker, and activist Derek Jarman
Derek Jarman
Michael Derek Elworthy Jarman was an English film director, stage designer, diarist, artist, gardener and author.-Life:...
's artistic, sexual, and political awakening in post-War England." It began its festival run in September 2009 with screenings at the 2009 Raindance Film Festival
Raindance Film Festival
Raindance is an independent film festival and film school that operates from various cities including: London, New York, Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Budapest, Berlin and Brussels...
in London, the Reykjavik International Film Festival
Reykjavík International Film Festival
- The festival :Reykjavík International Film Festival , is an international film festival held in Reykjavík, Iceland annually. The festival lasts 11 days each year and emphasizes young talents...
, in Iceland, the Olympia Film Festival in Washington, the 22nd MIX NYC
MIX NYC
MIX NYC is a not-for-profit organization based in New York City and dedicated to queer experimental film. It is also known as the "MIX festival," for its most visible program, the annual New York Lesbian and Gay Experimental Film Festival.- History :...
Film Festival in Chelsea, and Microvision's ShowMX series at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
. It won the Eastman Kodak Grand Prize for Best Short Film at the 2010 United States Super 8 and DV Film Festival.
Soundtrack
The original score was composed by Arban and Steven Severin, founding member of Siouxsie and the Banshees and The GloveThe Glove
The Glove was a short-lived one-off alternative rock supergroup, formed in 1982 by The Cure's Robert Smith and Siouxsie and the Banshees' Steven Severin.-History:...
. The soundtrack also includes classical works by Frederick Chopin and William Byrd
William Byrd
William Byrd was an English composer of the Renaissance. He wrote in many of the forms current in England at the time, including various types of sacred and secular polyphony, keyboard and consort music.-Provenance:Knowledge of Byrd's biography expanded in the late 20th century, thanks largely...
.
Cast
The ensemble cast includes Samuel Garfield as a teenage Derek JarmanDerek Jarman
Michael Derek Elworthy Jarman was an English film director, stage designer, diarist, artist, gardener and author.-Life:...
, Australian actor Jeremiah Dupre as The Groundskeeper, Keith Collins as The Man in the Window, Edward Singletary, Jr., as The Headmaster, and Dalilah Rain as Betts Jarman, with queer icon Clint Catalyst
Clint Catalyst
Clint Catalyst is an American author, actor, spoken word performer, and stylist.Catalyst has covered music, fashion, LGBT issues, and popular culture for magazines including LA Weekly, Frontiers, Out, Surface and Swindle.-Early life:Born in Jonesboro, Arkansas, Catalyst was raised an only child...
as The Interviewee.
Production History
From inception to delivery, the film took two years to complete, including fundraising efforts, principal photography, and post-production; large sections were shot on super 8Super 8 mm film
Super 8 mm film is a motion picture film format released in 1965 by Eastman Kodak as an improvement of the older "Double" or "Regular" 8 mm home movie format....
.