Wittgenstein (film)

Wittgenstein is a 1993 film by the English director Derek Jarman. It is loosely based on the life story as well as the philosophical thinking of the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein. The adult Wittgenstein is played by Karl Johnson.
The original screenplay was written by the literary critic Terry Eagleton. Jarman heavily rewrote the script during pre-production and shooting, radically altering the style and structure, although retaining much of Eagleton's dialogue. The story is not played out in a traditional setting, but rather against a black backdrop within which the actors and key props are placed, as if in a theatre setting.
The film was originally part of a series of 12 films on the life and ideas of the philosopher, produced by Tariq Ali on behalf of Channel Four. Only four scripts got commissioned, "Socrates" by Howard Brenton, "Spinoza" by Tariq Ali, "Locke" by David Edgar and "Wittgenstein" by Terry Eagleton. Spinoza was filmed and directed by Chris Spencer as "Spinoza : The Apostle of Reason". Also "Citizen Locke" was filmed and directed by Agnieszka Piotrowska. They were transmitted in 1994 as 52 min long television films.
Plot.
The film, in a series of sketches, depicts Wittgenstein's life from boyhood, through the first World War period to his Cambridge professorship and association with Bertrand Russell and John Maynard Keynes. The emphasis is on the exposition of his ideas and depicts his characteristics as a homosexual, an intuitive, moody, proud, and perfectionistic thinker, and a genius.
Reception.
Critical reception for the film has been generally positive and the movie holds a rating of 83% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 6 reviews. Derek Elley of "Variety" described it as an "immaculately lensed, intellectual joke" with a "gay subtext".