Wittgenstein film review

In his film, Wittgenstein, Derek Jarman attempts to tackle with the life and ideas of the vivid, tortured philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein.  

The film highlights the non-cognitive nature of religious language as Wittgenstein engages in philosophical dialogues questioning about basic concepts, how the earth exists and what it means to say we are ‘human’. The scenes with a deformed boy, Martin, establish, the way in which philosophy attempts to question even basic concepts, to start from no assumptions and work outwards from that empty space.


The film dramatizes the struggles Wittgenstein faced throughout his life; including becoming a school teacher, going to war and settling in at Cambridge as a professor, continuing to think all the while.


However, some may argue that the film does not provide a complete insight into Wittgenstein’s light as there is no sense of real time or narrative, only a sequence of incidents and characteristic reflexions on Wittgenstein's ever-changing thinking about the nature of the world and the way language is related to it.  This elimination of context puts the focus completely on Wittgenstein himself, his relationships, his thoughts, and his internal dramas.


Also, the film does not solely engage in Wittgenstein's ideas, it also attempts to deal with the philosopher's conflicted sexuality, which seems to have caused him as much anguish as his considerations of philosophical problems.  For this reason, the film does not provide a complete insight into Wittgenstein's philosophical work as significant sections of the film focus on his personal relationships.

In conclusion, Derek Jarman’s film is obviously a very complex and fascinating film, all the more so for the way in which it leaves such crucial questions unresolved. Although, more focus on his theory of Language Games may provide a further insight into his unique thought process.

Ellen and Melissa