Jubilee

Queen Elizabeth I visits late twentieth-century Britain to find a depressing landscape where life has changed since her time.


Steeped in the nihilistic philosophy and rebellious fashions of the British punk movement, this early feature by experimental filmmaker Derek Jarman presents an unusual look at late 1970s London. The bulk of Jubilee focuses on a loosely connected group of female outcasts, united by a hatred of convention that at times extends into dark violence. Providing contrast is the film's framing story, in which Queen Elizabeth I travels forward in time to view the future of England and finds unexpected sympathy with the female rebels. The film references both William Shakespeare and Siouxsie and the Banshees, and it alternates scenes of transgressive violence with heady discussions of English history. Although the film's graphic nature and undeniable pretension will prove unappealing to many viewers, its casting alone makes it an intriguing artifact of its time, showcasing subcultural icons from musician Adam Ant to several cast members of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Viewers with little tolerance for avant-garde affectations will certainly be uninterested, but the film will be rewarding to those with an interest in the development of Jarman's work or in punk culture.