The Dream Machine (1986) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language

1986 · 35 mins · English

Directed by

Derek Jarman, John Maybury

Starring

Gerald Incandela, Brion Gysin, Jean-Marc Prouveur

A 16 mm anthology of experimental super‑8 films by Derek Jarman, Michael Kostiff, Cerith Wyn Evans and John Maybury, framed by Tim Burke’s footage of Brion Gysin using a dream machine. Jarman contributes a 3 fps re‑filmed version of his 1977 Art and the Pose with music. Conceived to mark William Burroughs and Gysin’s 1982 UK visit, it received Arts Council seed money in 1983 and BFI completion funding in 1986. A later VHS release bundled it with Jarman’s other short works, causing some confusion.