The Garden
A nearly wordless visual narrative intercuts two main stories and a couple of minor ones. A woman, perhaps the Madonna, brings forth her baby to a crowd of intrusive paparazzi; she tries to flee them. Two men who are lovers marry and are arrested by the powers that be. The men are mocked and pilloried, tarred, feathered, and beaten. Loose in this contemporary world of electrical-power transmission lines is also Jesus. The elements, particularly fire and water, content with political power, which is intolerant and murderous.
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Cast
21 people
Tilda Swinton
Madonna/Voice Overs
Known for
Doctor Strange
We Need to Talk About Kevin
Johnny Mills
Lover
Also in
Kiss
Philip MacDonald
Joseph
Pete Lee-Wilson
Devil
Known for
Blade II
Back to Black
Spencer Leigh
Mary Magdalene / Adam
Known for
Caravaggio
Jody Graber
Young Boy
Known for
Edward II
Roger Cook
Christ
Also in
Wittgenstein
Kevin Collins
Lover
Known for
Wittgenstein
Edward II
Dawn Archibald
Nature Spirit
Known for
The Company of Wolves
Caravaggio
Milo Bell
Cast Member
Also in
War Requiem
A Killing on the Exchange
Vernon Dobtcheff
Old Man at Sauna
Known for
The Odyssey
Before Sunset
Michael Gough
Voice Overs/Old Man at Sauna
Known for
Batman Returns
Corpse Bride
Derek Jarman Director · Simon Fisher-Turner Composer Peter Cartwright Editor
First release September 6, 1990 · Produced in United Kingdom, Germany, Japan · Production British Screen Productions, Basilisk Communications
Production
ZDF
Production
British Screen Productions
Production
Basilisk Communications
Production
Uplink
Production
Space Shower TV
Production
Sohbi Kikaku
Production
Channel 4 Television
Production
United Kingdom · Germany · Japan
Produced in
Languages
Original language
English
Spoken on screen
English
Release dates
Canada · September 6, 1990
Theatrical
No release date listed for United States.
Germany
September 27, 2019 · Physical · DVD by salzgeber
Taiwan
November 14, 2014 · Premiere · Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival
May 31, 2026 · Premiere · Taipei Literature Festival
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Some details come from TheTVDB.