The Last of England (film) Last updated September 20, 2025
1987 British film
The Last of England Directed by Derek Jarman Written by Derek Jarman Produced by Starring Narrated by Nigel Terry Cinematography Derek Jarman, Christopher Hughes, Richard Heslop, Cerith Wyn Evans Edited by Derek Jarman, Peter Cartwright, Angus Cook Music by Release dates
August 1987 (1987-08 ) (Edinburgh International Film Festival) 14 February 1988 (1988-02-14 ) (Berlin International Film Festival) Running time
87 min. Country United Kingdom Language English Budget GBP£276,000
The Last of England , the painting from which the film derives its name The Last of England is a 1987 British arthouse film directed by Derek Jarman and starring Tilda Swinton . [ 1] [ 2] [ 3]
It is a poetic depiction of what Jarman felt was the loss of traditional English culture in the 1980s and his anger about Thatcher 's England, [ 4] [ 5] including the formation of Section 28 Local Government Act . [ 6] It is named after The Last of England , a painting by Ford Madox Brown . [ 6] [ 7]
One of the film's most famous scenes is of Tilda Swinton as a bride mourning her executed husband. [ 4] The scene was shot near the director's home on the beach of Dungeness, Kent . [ 6] [ 2]
Jarman wrote a book, with the same title, to accompany the film. [ 8]
Cast Tilda Swinton as The Maid Spencer Leigh as Soldier / Various roles 'Spring' Mark Adley as Spring / Various roles Gerrard McArthur as Various roles Jonny Phillips (credited as Jonathan Phillips) as Various roles Gay Gaynor as Various roles Matthew Hawkins as Junkyard Guy Nigel Terry as Narrator (voice) Reviews On Rotten Tomatoes , it has an average score of 68%, based on 3 reviews. [ 10]
'What proof do you need the world's curling up like an autumn leaf?' wrote Time Out magazine. [ 11]
David Bezanson wrote that the film is “graphic and disorienting, yet also totally trite". [ 5]
References ↑ Martin, Richard (8 November 2019). "English woes – Derek Jarman's apocalyptic visions of England are as relevant as ever" . Apollo Magazine . Retrieved 19 September 2025 . 1 2 ET (10 June 2025). "Patrick Wolf Shares 'The Last Of England' Video" . www.antimusic.com . Retrieved 19 September 2025 . ↑ "A Second Look: Derek Jarman's 'The Last of England' still potent" . Los Angeles Times . 5 August 2012. Retrieved 19 September 2025 . 1 2 Kuc, Kamila. "Last of England, The (1987)" . screenonline.org.uk. Archived from the original on 19 September 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2018 . 1 2 Bezanson, David. "The Last of England Review" . contactmusic.net. Archived from the original on 14 August 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2018 . 1 2 3 Scovell, Adam (7 November 2014). "In Profile: Derek Jarman's The Last of England (1988)" . thedoublenegative.co.uk. Archived from the original on 15 August 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2018 . ↑ Balboni, Francesca (2019). "Burning Through: Derek Jarman?s Realism in The Last of England (1987)" . Oxford Art Journal . 42 (2): 217– 231. ISSN 0142-6540 . ↑ Jarman, Derek; Hirst, David L. (1 January 1987). The Last of England . Constable & Robinson. ISBN 0094680809 . Archived from the original on 15 August 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2018 . ↑ Rose, Toby (6 February 2015). "Berlin Film Festival: why the Teddy Awards ceremony is one of the wildest parties on the festival circuit" . The Evening Standard . Retrieved 14 August 2018 . ↑ "THE LAST OF ENGLAND (1987)" . rottentomatoes.com. Archived from the original on 6 December 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2018 . ↑ "The Last of England" . timeout.com. 29 November 2011. Archived from the original on 15 August 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2018 . ↑ "Derek Jarman's The Last of England (The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)" . Discogs . Retrieved 20 September 2025 . ↑ The Last of England - Derek Jarman | Album | AllMusic , retrieved 19 September 2025 ↑ "Release "Derek Jarman's The Last of England" by Various Artists - MusicBrainz" . musicbrainz.org . Retrieved 19 September 2025 . External links
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