Watch CARAVAGGIO. The Power of Light

Caravaggio is an art-house film directed by British filmmaker Derek Jarman which was released in 1986. The movie provides a biographical portrait of the life of famed Italian Baroque painter Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio. Like most of Jarman’s other works, the Caravaggio movie is unique and somewhat unconventional. The plot of the movie is depicted in a non-linear fashion and oscillates between the artist’s different periods of life. The movie commences with a depiction of Caravaggio's last moments, when he is dying of fever and delirium. From there, the story jumps to his earliest days, where he is an apprentice in Lombardy, working with Simone Peterzano.

A significant portion of the movie focuses on Caravaggio's life in Rome, which was the pinnacle of his career. It displays the spirit of the time, from the immediate Renaissance, through the Mannerist era, and into the Baroque period, which Caravaggio’s art helped to define. This period of time was bustling with the competition between the Church and the aristocracy, who were all involved in the art scene.

The Caravaggio movie touches on the artist's troubled personal life, his disavowal with the Catholic Church, and his struggles with his own sexual orientation. The only constant in Caravaggio’s life is his love of painting. He is shown throughout the movie traveling around, offering sketches to those who can provide him a place to stay, food to eat, or drugs to get high.

As the movie progresses, the audience witnesses the development of Caravaggio's artistic style. Caravaggio’s art is characterized by the use of chiaroscuro, or light and darkness, which is evident in his paintings’ dramatic and often shocking scenes. The movie shows Caravaggio using live models to produce his hallmark painting style. His painting method is neither religious nor artistic in nature, but an honest inquisition of the human body, unpainted, unidealized, and unacceptable.

Caravaggio’s memory and influence are found throughout the movie in the form of his paintings, which provide a visual and emotional backdrop to various scenes. The movie frequently references Caravaggio’s religious painting style, which replaced the idealized representations of saints worshipped in church art with a present reality of physical struggles and passions. Caravaggio’s paintings transformed the religious scene, causing an uproar that eventually led to his fall from grace.

Jarman uses Caravaggio's artwork to vividly illuminate and recreate the dramatic events in Caravaggio's life, and the thematic structure of the movie revolves around the artist's output, personality, and life. Through Jermain’s eyes, the audience is elevated to an understanding of Caravaggio's art, but also the artist behind it.

Caravaggio’s life displays a dual nature; his outstanding talent and artistic achievement contrasts with his tale of poverty, transgression, and disgraceful acts. The movie portrays this paradox effectively by highlighting the relationship between the artist's two sides. Caravaggio was undoubtedly one of the most exceptional artists of his time, and Jarman succeeded in showing that in a way that stayed truthful to his artistic vision.

In conclusion, Caravaggio is a fascinating and distinctive movie that art enthusiasts alike will appreciate. It brilliantly tells the story of one of the world’s most celebrated painters, his art, and the time period in which he lived in a personal and moving manner. Its storytelling method is unique and artistic, with Jarman's vivid visuals and rich symbolism making it a treat for the eyes. Anyone who finds an interest in Baroque art, the Italian Renaissance, or the life of Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio will undoubtedly appreciate this inspiring and moving film.

CARAVAGGIO. The Power of Light is a 2018 documentary with a runtime of 35 minutes.