History Film / Wittgenstein

It had a difficult UsefulNotes/ScriptLifeCycle. The original draft was written by Eng Lit academic Terry Eagleton. Contrary to his reputation as a left-wing maverick, Eagleton delivered a rather low-key, realistic script, but Jarman didn't think it was [[RuleOfFun fun]] enough and he heavily rewrote Eagleton's version, [[CreatorBacklash not entirely to the latter's unqualified delight]]. Jarman injected a lot of visual jokes and generally [[RuleOfFunny upped the level of humour]], and the result was widely praised as one of the more original and thoughtful films ever made about a philosopher. When Eagleton's and Jarman's screenplays were published in one volume, it was pointed out that whereas in Eagleton's script the characters just talked about Wittgenstein's ideas, in Jarman's movie the ideas themselves are dramatised.

* BiTheWay: Keynes.

* ReluctantWarrior: Wittgenstein goes off to fight for the Austrian side in WorldWarOne only because he hopes that the [[SecretTestOfCharacter proximity of death will bring him closer to God]]. It doesn't work.

The adult Wittgenstein is played by Karl Johnson, who would go on to play another [[{{Characters/Rome}} philosophical stoic]]. Also features a memorable early-ish appearance by TildaSwinton as Bertrand Russell's {{Cloudcuckoolander}} mistress, [[RichBoredom Lady Ottoline Morrell]].

* FakeNationality: English actor Karl Johnson playing Austrian philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein.

1993 sort-of-{{Biopic}} of the [[ThePhilosopher philosopher]] LudwigWittgenstein, directed by British filmmaker Derek Jarman. Notable for serious LampshadeHanging of its studio set, in which brightly coloured costumes stand out against black-draped backgrounds, and in general a high degree of BreakingTheFourthWall in the form of its onscreen and distinctly LemonyNarrator, who is Wittgenstein himself as a 12-year-old boy.

It had a difficult ScriptLifeCycle. The original draft was written by Eng Lit academic Terry Eagleton. Contrary to his reputation as a left-wing maverick, Eagleton delivered a rather low-key, realistic script, but Jarman didn't think it was [[RuleOfFun fun]] enough and he heavily rewrote Eagleton's version, [[CreatorBacklash not entirely to the latter's unqualified delight]]. Jarman injected a lot of visual jokes and generally [[RuleOfFunny upped the level of humour]], and the result was widely praised as one of the more original and thoughtful films ever made about a philosopher. When Eagleton's and Jarman's screenplays were published in one volume, it was pointed out that whereas in Eagleton's script the characters just talked about Wittgenstein's ideas, in Jarman's movie the ideas themselves are dramatised.

!!Provides examples of:

* CampStraight: John Maynard Keynes, as camp as a row of tents and yet deeply in love with his ballerina wife Lydia Lopokova.

It had a difficult ScriptLifeCycle. The original draft was written by Eng Lit academic Terry Eagleton. Contrary to his reputation as a left-wing maverick, Eagleton delivered a rather low-key, realistic script, but Jarman didn't think it was [[RuleOfFun fun]] enough and he heavily rewrote Eagleton's version, [[{{Understatement}} not entirely to the latter's unqualified delight]]. Jarman injected a lot of visual jokes and generally [[RuleOfFunny upped the level of humour]], and the result was widely praised as one of the more original and thoughtful films ever made about a philosopher. When Eagleton's and Jarman's screenplays were published in one volume, it was pointed out that whereas in Eagleton's script the characters just talked about Wittgenstein's ideas, in Jarman's movie the ideas themselves are dramatised.

* FreudWasRight: Wittgenstein doesn't think so. TruthInTelevision again: Wittgenstein's real-life sister Gretl was actually analysed by Freud, and while Wittgenstein read and was impressed by Freud, he couldn't help being sceptical.
-->'''Wittgenstein''': You've been reading Sigmund Freud.
-->'''Bertrand Russell''': What of it?
-->'''Wittgenstein''': It's dangerous stuff. Believe me. It takes one Viennese to know another.

-->'''Wittgenstein''': I've decided to commit suicide.
-->'''Ottoline Morrell''': [[SpotOfTea Tea before you go?]]

* StraightGay: All the gay characters are this, Wittgenstein most of all. Justified in his case in that he wasn't entirely comfortable with his sexuality. Wittgenstein's biographer Ray Monk has asserted that Wittgenstein wasn't entirely comfortable with sexuality as such.

* MoreDakka: Wittgenstein, armed with a Bergmann MP18, attempts to use Dakka to achieve enlightenment.

The adult Wittgenstein is played by Karl Johnson, who would go on to play another [[{{Characters/Rome}} philosophical stoic]].

* StraightGay: All the gay characters are this, Wittgenstein most of all. Justified in his case in that he wasn't entirely comfortable with his sexuality (his biographer Ray Monk has asserted that Wittgenstein wasn't entirey