Bill Douglas: Intent on Getting the Image

British film-maker Alan Clarke was championed by the likes of Gary Oldman, Tim Roth and Ray Winstone - Stephen Frears even called him the best. And yet Clarke only ever made 3 feature films. This documentary explores the life and career of an exceptional director - Alan Clarke.

Derek Jarman's family, friends and closest collaborators recall the life and genius of one of Briatin's greatest film-makers - featuring clips, stills and a gorgeous use of Super 8. "Understand that your morality is not law," said Derek Jarman. A good maxim for a filmmaker whose life and work is explored in this loving documentary. Avant-garde in method but nostalgic in temperament, he's remembered by family and friends like Tilda Swinton and Nigel Terry. Excellent use of Super 8 blends with revelatory stories, not least his wish to cast Terry-Thomas as Ariel in The Tempest!

Using interviews with close family, friends and collaborators, The Gospel According to St. Derek bears witness to Derek Jarman’s unique approach to low-budget film-making (his near-alchemical ability to turn the base components of film-making in to artistic gold, his placing of himself at the heart of all his work and his need to be part of a repertory company-type set-up). The Gospel… also promotes Derek Jarman’s importance as one of Britain's finest film-makers and acts, therefore, as a rally call to all would-be independent film-makers. This is the ’10 commandments of St. Derek ‘(who was indeed canonised by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence) on low-budget film-making.