‘Jubilee’ — punk’s first film effort

Press, 21 May 1981, Page 14

‘Jubilee’ — punk’s first film effort

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hans petrovic

By

DAVID SWIFT

“Jubilee,” which is.back at the Academy tomorrow, is a rather nasty film — certainly one of the most violent to emerge from England in recent .years. For a short while it achieved notoriety as the first punk film (it was completed in 1978) but the music, dyed hair, chains, safety pins and other aggressive visuals are present to direct the fantasy, not to present a fact. “Jubilee” was directed by Derek Jarman, who must possess a vivid imagination because he was also the writer of this montage of rebellion. Still, it is nice to see the film instead of having to read about it. .Most of the people I know, who saw it as part of the Canterbury Film Festival a couple of weeks ago, found the cast, and the music, to be of. great interest. .... Among the actors are Jor-

dan, who. was a, shop assistant for. the Sex Pistols mentor, Malcolm McLaren, in his “Sex”'shop in the Kings Road in the mid-19705; and Toyah Wilcox, who is now a regular intruder into the British music charts after spending' some time in the unfinancial post of cult figure. There is some interest here for the. class of 1977. Chelsea perform their

'classic “Right To Work”; Adam ahd the original Antz (no feathers) appear, and watch out for The Slits, both in studio scenes and as street girls, tying up an adversary to a telephone pole with barbed wire. Wayne County, who ..is now Jayne County, shows how: the change can do you good.

But what about the . plot?, Well, the first Queen Elizabeth is transported through time to England, 1984, and probably wishes whe was back in time for the Great Fire. The future she wanted to see has definitely no future.

Murder is permitted but bingo is forbidden. The centre of London looks as if it has been bombed, and every survivor is for him or herself — until the armed secret police get them. Kill or be killed — the British way of life, anyone?