Saturday, October 31, 2009

War Requiem (1989)


War Requiem is a film adaptation of Benjamin Britten's musical piece War Requiem. It was shot in 1988 by the British film director Derek Jarman with the 1963 recording as the soundtrack, produced by Don Boyd and financed by the BBC. Decca Records required that the 1963 recording be heard on its own, with no overlaid soundtrack or other sound effects.

The film featured Nathaniel Parker, Tilda Swinton, Sean Bean, Nigel Terry and Laurence Olivier in his last acting appearance in any medium before his death in July 1989. The film is structured as the reminiscences of Olivier's character, the Old Soldier in a wheelchair, and Olivier recites "Strange Meeting" in the film's prologue.

Shooting for the film took place at Darenth Park Hospital in Kent, beginning 17 October 1988 and lasting for 18 days.




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