Wittgenstein (1993): cast, story & where to watch
1993 · Film · ★ 6.3
Released in 1993, Wittgenstein is a comedy, drama and history film directed by Derek Jarman, running about 75 minutes. “If people never did silly things nothing intelligent would ever get done.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. A dramatization, in modern theatrical style, of the life and thought of the Viennese-born, Cambridge-educated philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein, whose principal interest was the nature and limits of language. A series of sketches depict the unfolding of his life from boyhood, through the era of the first World War, to his eventual Cambridge professorship and association with Bertrand Russell and John Maynard Keynes. The emphasis in these sketches is on the exposition of the ideas of Wittgenstein, a homosexual, and an intuitive, moody, proud, and perfectionistic thinker generally regarded as a genius.
Who’s in it. Wittgenstein stars Clancy Chassay as Young Wittgenstein, Karl Johnson as Ludwig Wittgenstein, Michael Gough as Betrand Russell and Tilda Swinton as Lady Ottoline Morrell, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.3/10, Wittgenstein has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In GB you can stream it on BFI Player, BFI Player Amazon Channel and BFI Player Apple TV Channel and rent or buy it from Apple TV Store and Amazon Video. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Wittgenstein page.
If you liked it. Fans of Wittgenstein tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Wittgenstein (1993)?
- In GB, Wittgenstein is available to stream on BFI Player, BFI Player Amazon Channel and BFI Player Apple TV Channel, and rent or buy from Apple TV Store and Amazon Video. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Wittgenstein worth watching?
- Wittgenstein holds an audience score of 6.3 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy, drama and history. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Wittgenstein?
- Wittgenstein stars Clancy Chassay, Karl Johnson, Michael Gough, Tilda Swinton and Kevin Collins.
- When was Wittgenstein released?
- Wittgenstein was released in 1993, with a runtime of about 75 minutes.