While a handful have come close, there has been no filmmaker quite as influential in queer cinema than the sorely-missed Derek Jarman. In part because his material was unapologetically doused in overtly homoerotic imagery as he inexplicably celebrated the male form, but also because of his vocal activism at a time when LGBTQ+ rights were being severely challenged, Jarman was a force of nature in his challenging of public opinion and lobbying of law and government. His death in 1994 of AIDS-related illness has left an indelible mark on cinema.
And yet through the power of film - namely 30 hours of quality unearthed footage, shot by Seamus McGarvey during the production of Edward II in the early 1990s - we can come to know and understand the artist and activist a little more. Assembled almost three decades later by Theo Rollason, who thoroughly and thoughtfully weaves a vivid portrait focusing on how Jarman's activism seeps into his creative outlets, as well as a political assessment of the era which it smartly - and, frankly devastatingly - drawls parallels with the current climate, Queer Edward II is a truly rousing piece of documentary making.
While Edward II, in all its postmodern, anachronistic glory defied every expectation, Queer Edward II follows more stereotypical storytelling beats but is never any less immersive as a result. Rollason does a remarkable job of balancing the tones and avenues the footage lays forth: it balances the delight of making films with people you love, as well as the joys of allowing creativity to flow in spite of limitations, against the devastating impacts of the HIV/AIDS on a generation of gay men, with the collective outrage of their further oppression by the government through various laws. It ventures into potentially grey and murky areas of discourse regarding some of the more controversial activism without casting aspersions or judgement, and delivers more than a handful of laughs along the way -- who could resist the sights of a Cliff Richard rehearsal being invaded by a mob of gay protesters?
An outstanding archival excavation that provides depth and detail before pointing the finger to the work we still have to do, Queer Edward II is a spirited, inspiring and vital piece of documentary filmmaking that is as joyful as it is incensed. A superbly constructed and emotionally drawn love letter to Jarman, his work, the ____ and the queer community, Queer Edward II demonstrates that just as much now as then, there is no room for political indifference when it comes to liberating and uplifting queer folk, while also cementing the voice and legacy of Jarman for anyone in doubt of his contribution to both film and culture.