Wittgenstein
“If people never did silly things nothing intelligent would ever get done.”
A dramatization, in modern theatrical style, of the life and thought of the Viennese-born, Cambridge-educated philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein, whose principal interest was the nature and limits of language. A series of sketches depict the unfolding of his life from boyhood, through the era of the first World War, to his eventual Cambridge professorship and association with Bertrand Russell and John Maynard Keynes. The emphasis in these sketches is on the exposition of the ideas of Wittgenstein, a homosexual, and an intuitive, moody, proud, and perfectionistic thinker generally regarded as a genius.
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Cast
39 people
Clancy Chassay
Young Wittgenstein
Also in
Under the Bombs
War Requiem
Tanya Wade
Tutor
Karl Johnson
Ludwig Wittgenstein
Known for
Halo
Hot Fuzz
Michael Gough
Betrand Russell
Known for
Batman Returns
Corpse Bride
Tilda Swinton
Lady Ottoline Morrell
Known for
Doctor Strange
We Need to Talk About Kevin
Kevin Collins
Johnny
Known for
Edward II
Nabil Shaban
Martian
Known for
City of Joy
Sally Dexter
Hermine Wittgenstein
Known for
Emmerdale
Poldark
Lynn Seymour
Lydia Lopokova
Also in
The Little Vampire
Dancers
Jill Balcon
Leopoldine Wittgenstein
Known for
Edward II
Gina Marsh
Gretyl Wittgenstein
Vanya Del Borgo
Helene Wittgenstein
No other roles listed
Derek Jarman Director · Terry Eagleton Writer Ken Butler Writer
United States release September 17, 1993 · Produced in Japan, United Kingdom · Production Bandung Productions, Channel 4 Television
Production
BFI
Production
Bandung Productions
Production
Channel 4 Television
Production
Uplink
Production
British Film Institute
Production
Channel Four Films
Production
Japan · United Kingdom
Produced in
Languages
Original language
English
Spoken on screen
English
Release dates
Germany · February 16, 1993
Premiere · Berlin International Film Festival
United Kingdom · March 26, 1993
Theatrical
United States · September 17, 1993
Limited theatrical
Canada
September 10, 1993 · Premiere · Toronto International Film Festival
Germany
February 10, 1994 · Theatrical
Italy
February 20, 2023 · Theatrical
Taiwan
December 20, 2025 · Premiere · Portraits Beyond Biopics (TFAI)
May 22, 2026 · Premiere · Taipei Literature Festival
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Some details come from TheTVDB.