The dvd box said there was a twist at the end, but I didn't expect what I saw. . . .
***SPOILER***
What was the point of Edward dreaming about his death -the way it happened- and then having the dream murderer kiss him instead at the end of the film?? I hate it when directors take that "artistic liberty" and change the ending of a piece of literature. It happens more and more.
The dream "murderer" (Lightborn) = Derek Jarman
Jarman saves homosexuality, bringing it onto equal footing (and isopolity...) with heterosexuality.
Jarman was saying to viewers, screw what's "expected" (tradition/convention), do the right thing.
Lightborn, channelling Jarman, accepts Edward for who he is, and, by accepting Edward for who he is, saves him, and, by extension, saves homosexuality (places it on equal footing with heterosexuality).
A kiss is involved in the saving - love is the answer, love conquers hatred, love thy neighbour.
We have the power to hate, scapegoat, ridicule, torture, and persecute, and hence the original play ends with Edward's execution.
But we also have the power to love and to save, so Jarman asks us, why not save the man, since it's within our capacity to do so?