In Memoriam: Peter Watkins (1935-2025)

Peter Watkins was the greatest filmmaker of the second half of the 20th century: an artist who not only understood the power of the audio-visual medium, but spent his life and work interrogating that power. A pioneer of the docudrama genre, Watkins explored how images are constructed, the way we relate to them, the influence they hold on our perception and, later in his career, methods of resistance. He was, in this respect, every bit as important as D. W. Griffith and Orson Welles, and his influence can be seen in any number of filmmakers - from Michael Hanneke and Ben Wheatley to Bill Douglas and Stanley Kubrick.

A full tribute will follow in the next few days. Until then, there can be no better way of commemorating Watkins' passing than revisiting the film that put him on the map and marked him out as an extraordinary talent. I first saw Culloden (1964) about 20 years ago; it was my introduction to Watkins' work, and for me it captures the raw spirit of his vision: intense, playful, acerbic and profound, yet shot through with great empathy and compassion. I can think of no greater compliment than to say I envy anyone watching it for the first time.

ⓒ BBC/BFI