The Garden

Derek Jarman
1990-09-06


5.6
88 min

A nearly wordless visual narrative intercuts two main stories and a couple of minor ones. A woman, perhaps the Madonna, brings forth her baby to a crowd of intrusive paparazzi; she tries to flee them. Two men who are lovers marry and are arrested by the powers that be. The men are mocked and pilloried, tarred, feathered, and beaten. Loose in this contemporary world of electrical-power transmission lines is also Jesus. The elements, particularly fire and water, content with political power, which is intolerant and murderous.

Cast

Name Character Team
Tilda Swinton Madonna/Voice Overs The Free Refills
Johnny Mills Lover Unowned
Philip MacDonald Joseph Unowned
Pete Lee-Wilson Devil Unowned
Spencer Leigh Mary Magdalene / Adam Unowned
Jody Graber Young Boy Unowned
Roger Cook Christ Unowned
Kevin Collins Lover Unowned
Dawn Archibald Nature Spirit Unowned
Milo Bell Cast Member Unowned
Vernon Dobtcheff Old Man at Sauna Unowned
Michael Gough Voice Overs/Old Man at Sauna Unowned
Maribelle La Manchega Spanish Dancer Unowned
Jessica Martin Singer Unowned
Jack Birkett Pontius (Orlando) Unowned
Leslie Randall Old Man at Sauna Unowned
Mike Tezcan Policeman Unowned
Matthew Wilde Policeman Unowned
Stephen McBride Narrator (voice) Unowned
Yolande Brener Eve Unowned
Derek Jarman Himself Unowned