Jubilee (1978)

In the distant echoes of the 16th century, Queen Elizabeth I, amidst the grandeur of her court, conjures the ethereal spirit Ariel, guided by the wisdom of her trusted alchemist, Doctor John Dee. Their purpose is to peer into the murky future, a revelation that unveils a dystopian London, a city drowning in grime and choking on rampant crime. Horrified, the Queen steps through the veil of time, journeying 400 years into a future where the once glorious British Empire lies in ruins. In this bleak new world, Queen Elizabeth I finds her capital city overrun by a force more sinister than decay - a corrupt police force and a savage gang of punk guerrilla girls, led by the anarchic new Monarch of Punk, Bod. This ruthless band has declared a multi-tiered war, transforming Britain into a desolate wasteland. Amidst this chaos, the question remains - where is her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II? Venturing further into this late twentieth-century Britain, the Queen discovers a landscape stained with apathy and despair, where life is as worthless as it is directionless. Here, three post-punk girls idly whittle away their vacuous existence, occasionally dabbling in murder to break the monotonous ennui. In this gritty tale of time travel and societal decay, the Queen navigates a future where the once-majestic Empire is a mere shadow of its former self, and survival is a game played with loaded dice.

Jubilee is a comedy movie featuring Claire Davenport and directed by Derek Jarman.

Jubilee is currently streaming on Criterion Channel and Max.