Plot: What’s it about?
Queen Elizabeth I (Jenny Runacre) is the ruler of England in 1578, but she wishes to glimpse the future of her people. In order to do so, she calls in her court alchemist Dr. John Dee (Richard O’Brien) and the preparations are started. The art of time travel is no simple task, so Dee invokes the angel Arial, who will transport the pair into the future. But the future is not as bright as Elizabeth had hoped and instead, England has turned into a virtual wasteland. The forward nature of civilization has halted in its tracks, as the area has become a depressing landscape, infested by derelicts, criminals, and deadbeats of all kinds. The streets are overrun by bands of female punks, who roam around looking for trouble to get into. So even the idea of walking down the street can be a dangerous one, thanks to all the punks on the loose. The police aren’t much of a help either, since they are a fascist organization that puts minimal value on true justice. Even Buckingham Palace has been taken, now turned into a music studio that serves as the center of a media empire. At the same, the mirror image of Elizabeth, Bod (also Runacre) is the head of a sadistic household, one littered with various undesirables. This is not the future she wanted to see for her country, but is Elizabeth powerless to change what happens to England?
This is an unexpected addition to The Criterion Collection, but I am pleased to see Jubilee given such a lush treatment. Derek Jarman (The Last of England, The Next Life) crafted a unique, offbeat creation with Jubilee, the kind of movie that splits audiences right down the middle. As many people love this movie as hate and in my experience, the reaction to Jubilee is always an extreme one. So you won’t find too many people on the fence in this case, as the film usually sparks a strong response from most folks. Even if you dislike Jubilee though, you have to admit that the premise is a cool one, no doubt about it. Jarman has laid down the material so that Jubilee has layers, one which offers simple entertainment and another that provides political & social commentary, the latter of which proved to be quite accurate. I won’t delve into the social content of Jubilee, but I do think Jarman touches on some interesting prospects here. If nothing else, the concept of punk rockers overtaking England makes Jubilee a lot of fun to watch. Yes, it is dark in its humor, but there is humor here, to be sure. The music is excellent also, which is crucial here, given that music is part of the social order in the film’s setting. I recommend Jubilee to those interested, especially since Criterion’s treatment is so impressive.
The role of a woman taken from her own time and zapped into a dark, twisted future isn’t a simple one, but it is well handled in Jubilee. That is thanks to Jenny Runacre, who was able to bring a more than solid effort to the production. Runacre had been in several movies before this one, so she had good experience and that shows in her performance. As her character is thrust into a world so different from her own, she puts a certain level of disjointed texture into the part, which is quite effective. As Queen Elizabeth I, Runacre has a kind of lost innocence about her, but in her second role in Jubilee, there is no such presence. As the murderous Bod, she leans on a more twisted kind of approach, which again, is just what the role needs. And while it seems like the two characters couldn’t be more different, you can spot threads of similar nature, which is part of Jarman’s design for the picture. I would assume it was tough for Runacre to go back and forth between the two though, but she seems to have minimal troubles. Other films with Runacre include Restoration, The Witches, The Final Programme, and The Duellists. The cast also includes Nell Campbell (The Killing Fields, Joe Gould’s Secret), Toyah Wilcox (Quadrophenia, The Tempest), and Richard O’Brien (The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Dark City).
Video: How does it look?
Jubilee is presented in 1.66:1 anamorphic widescreen. This is a brand new digital transfer, one which was supervised and approved by the film’s director of photography, Peter Middleton. As such, we know this is about as good as it gets, especially since Criterion did some digital restoration work on the materials. The print is much cleaner than previous editions, but small pops and nicks are still frequent. I was never distracted by these minor defects however, nor was I bothered by the light grain present in most scenes. In other words, you will notice some print flaws, but they never amount to a distraction. The colors have a certain blend of bright and dull, as the hues are bold, but at the same time, held back. This is intentional however, as all prior editions have had the same color scheme. I found contrast to be in fine form also, as black levels are accurate and well balanced, with solid detail at all times.
Audio: How does it sound?
A good amount of work was also done on the audio elements, so the presentation is cleaner than we’re used to. I still heard some small defects, but the material has a smoother, less harsh texture, which is excellent news. The music is clean and sounds good, which is important, since it plays a sizable role in the picture. I found sound effects to be in solid form here also, though of course, they don’t play too much of a part in this mix. The dialogue is crisp and shows no real flaws, even the high end is clean and clear. If the accents get too thick, just switch on the available English subtitles, so as not to miss out on the dialogue.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc isn’t loaded, but you’ll find some nice supplements, such as Jubilee: A Time Less Golden. This documentary looks at not only this movie, but also Jarman’s work on the whole, through interviews, memorabilia, and assorted other footage. The interviews are with several stars of Jubilee, as well as those close to Jarman. I found this to be a solid piece, as it focuses on substance, instead of promotion or patting people on the back. If you’re a fan of Jubilee or Jarman, you won’t want to miss this documentary. The short film Jordan’s Dance is also found here, which is considered the inspiration for Jubilee. This disc also includes costume sketches, continuity stills, the shooting script, and the film’s theatrical trailer.
