Caravaggio

A pseudo-historical film about the life of the rebellious artist Caravaggio is Tilda Swinton's debut film, without which, perhaps, the awkward girl from an aristocratic family would never have thought of acting in movies.

This film pretends to be a classic biography, but in reality, Jarman doesn't care about the facts: he is only interested in the vibrant and vulgar, like Caravaggio's own paintings, historical anecdotes mixed with his own traits, which he actively bestows upon his characters as a true artist. However, he also doesn't care about temporal conventions: a character from the 16th century can easily wear jeans, and it looks completely organic, with no emphasis on such details. Very delicately done by Jarman, who could have constantly pointed out this technique to the audience. What is truly authentic in this film are the meticulously crafted shots, perfectly chosen lighting, costumes, and the actors themselves. Jarman captures the spirit of Caravaggio's paintings with unparalleled accuracy.