From today, 10th February to 30th March, the Filmhaus Nuremberg is presenting a 16-film tribute to the fiercely talented Scottish actress Tilda Swinton, starting with her first film role in Derek Jarman’s Caravaggio. Derek Jarman, who would have turned 80 on 31st January, has left his mark on British independent cinema like no other director. His opulently staged, provocative films full of allusions to art history, religion, folklore and literature are still groundbreaking today and became milestones of queer film art. He worked closely with Tilda Swinton, so the Filmhaus is using this film series to also pay tribute to this director, painter and writer, who died much too early, on his milestone birthday.
Tilda Swinton in Orlando copyright ©StudioCanal
In 1992, Swinton made Orlando with Sally Potter, a film that has shaped her image to this day, followed by collaborations with directors such as Lynne Ramsay, Cynthia Beatt and Joanna Hogg. She shone in both Luca Guadagnino’s I am Love (2009) and in We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011) directed by Lynne Ramsay. With the leading role in Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s Memoria, a new artistic highlight in the work of this versatile singular actress can be admired. All other films and further details about the tribute can be found on the Filmhaus cinema website (see the link below).
A Short Portrait of Tilda Swinton – The Chameleon Actress Of Our Time
Anti-diva, androgynous role model, cinephile activist: For more than three decades, the Scottish actress Tilda Swinton (*1960) has been one of the most outstanding character actresses of the cinema world. With her unmistakable appearance, she became a style icon whose fascination even David Bowie could not resist, hiring her for the music video “The Stars (Are Out Tonight)”. Although she has become an integral part of pop culture, Tilda Swinton’s heart beats passionately for the art of film and independent cinema.
Everybody’s Darling Tilda Swinton
Honestly almost no one can escape her charisma and spell on the big screen. Her cinematic performances somehow reflect the broader transformations in the art of cinema during different decades. She was also jury president of the Berlinale in 2009, besides organising the Pilgrimage Film Festival in the neighbouring villages of her home in Scotland. Time and again Tilda accompanies film projects already in the production phase using her celebrity status to secure financing. At the beginning of 2022, a small shock wave was sent through the world of cinema when she spoke in an interview with The Guardian about her retirement from the film business and expressed her wish to work in end of life care. New film projects have already been announced and with the leading role in Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s Memoria, a new artistic highlight in the work of this versatile singular actress can be admired. So let’s keep our fingers crossed that she remains faithful to the big screen for a little longer.
Tilda Swinton in Julia copyright © Kinowelt GmbH
Here are three films I’m personally looking forward to watching featuring Tilda Swinton:
ONLY LOVERS LEFT ALIVE
Adam and Eve are ancient lovers and fascinated by human culture. No wonder, since the two vampires have secretly contributed to it over the centuries. While Eve seeks to devour an ever-growing pool of world literature, Adam has come to an end. He silently plots his suicide by wooden bullet. What neither of them think of, in their languid, melancholic existence as bloodsucking hipsters, is Eve’s little sister Ava, who suddenly appears on both their doors and wants only one thing: sex, blood and rock’n’roll.
Laconic, melancholic, stylish: In Jim Jarmusch’s vampire film without horror, a bloodsucking intellectual (Tilda Swinton) dream walks through a 21st century in decline. A highlight in the late work of the legendary independent director, with whom Swinton worked several times.
GB/D 2013, film run: 123 Min., engl. OmU (original audio* along with subtitles), FSK: from 12, Directed by: Jim Jarmusch, with: Tilda Swinton, Tom Hiddleston, Mia Wasikowska i.a.
Playing times: Fri 11.3; Thurs, 24.3 at 6:30pm; Sun 27.3. at 8:15pm
Preview: MEMORIA
It is an eerie, rumbling sound that keeps haunting Jessica. The orchid expert visits her sister, who is suffering from a mysterious illness, in Medellín. Jessica, who suffers from insomnia, decides to go in search of the source of this sound. In Bogotá, she befriends Agnes, an archaeologist studying human remains discovered during the construction of a tunnel. Jessica travels to see Agnes at the excavation site plunging deeper and deeper into a whirlpool of memories, stories and dreams. In a small town nearby, she encounters a fish scaler, Hernan. They share memories by the river. As the day comes to a close, Jessica awakens to a sense of clarity.
CO/T/GB/MEX/F 2021, film run: 136 Min., span./engl. OmU (original audio* along with subtitles), FSK: ni (no information), Directed by: Apichatpong Weerasethakul, with: Tilda Swinton, Elkin Díaz, Jeanne Balibar i. a.
Playing times: Sat 26.03 at 6:30pm; Wed 30.03 at 6:30pm
The Souvenir Part II, copyright ©a24films
Preview: THE SOUVENIR: PART II
The film continues the story of the young film student Julie who has just come out of her toxic first relationship. Still shocked by Anthony’s death, she tries to come to terms with what she experienced in her diploma film. She doesn’t really feel understood by her overprotective parents, her fellow students have trouble following her intellectually, which she wants to express practically with her film. What will her future as a budding filmmaker look like? For the second part of Joanna Hogg’s critically acclaimed autobiographical feature film project (part one was screened at the Filmhaus in summer 2020), Tilda Swinton was once again in front of the camera with her daughter Honor Swinton Byrne. The Souvenir Part II is a portrait of the artist that transcends the halting particulars of everyday life — a singular, alchemic mix of memoir and fantasy.
GB/US 2021, film run: 136 Min., FSK: ni (no information), engl. OmU (original audio* along with subtitles), Directed by: Joanna Hogg with: Honor Swinton Byrne, James Spencer Ashworth, Tilda Swinton i. a. Playing times: Wed 23.03 at 6:45pm; Mon 28.03 at 8:15pm
Venue: Filmhaus Nürnberg
Adresse: Königstr. 93, 90402 Nuremberg (near the main train station “Hauptbahnhof Nürnberg”)
Phone: +49 911 231 58 23
Website: https://www.kunstkulturquartier.de/filmhaus
Ticket prices: €4.50*–€6**/ €7 (*for Friendship cardholders; **reduced price for pupils, students, pensioners, people with a certificate of unemployment or with a severely disabled pass and groups of 5 people or more.)
Concessions: Filmhaus café
Please note that the 2G rule (vaccinated or recovered) and the obligation to wear an FFP2 mask still applies. For more information on your planned visit please visit https://www.kunstkulturquartier.de/filmhaus/service/tickets. It is highly recommended to purchase tickets in advance online via https://booking.cinetixx.de or during regular opening hours (Mon–Fri 10am–6pm) at the ticket counter of the Kultur Information at the KunstKulturQuartier, Nuremberg.
Homage to Tilda Swinton from 10th February–30th March 2022 at the Filmhaus Nuremberg.
This article is written in British English.
