23 Sep Saintmaking: the canonisation of Derek Jarman by queer ‘nuns’
This year marks the 30th anniversary of film-maker Derek Jarman’s canonisation by an activist group of gay male ‘nuns’ known as the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. At the time in 1991, Derek Jarman was the most prominent person in the UK living openly with HIV. He was outspoken, radical and unapologetically queer. The perfect antidote, in the Sisters’ eyes, to Ian McKellen’s acceptance of a knighthood in the 1991 new year honours.
Director Marco Alessi tells us how Saintmaking came to be and what it was like working with the Sisters.