Modern Nature

Jarman, Derek. "Modern Nature", University of Minnesota Press, 2009 The Pace of Life Amos Lassen We get a good look at the pace of filmmaker Derek Jarman's life in "Modern Nature". Jarman lives from 1942-1994 and directed some of the notable films of our time but he was also a stage designer, an artist, a writer, a gardener and a very outspoken AIDS and queer activist. "Modern Nature" is one of the several books that he wrote. This is his diaries from 1989-1990 and there is a great deal about his hobby of gardening. Jarman communed with nature regularly and he realizes the importance of nature in his life especially when he became more ill from AIDS. We read of his cruising and how he made "The Last of England" with no script and we read his fears when he accepts the fact that he is dying. Sensitive and emotional. "Modern Nature" relates to us about his illness and couples it with references to his gardening and his films. It was not a good time for us then as so many were dying from AIDS. This is not easy to read but a must for everyone who cares for Jarman and/or queer cinema. At times I felt I was snooping but that passed when I realized that we do not have very much about him and his own personal thoughts are breathtaking.