The Cook, The Thief, His Wife And Her Lover [DVD] [1989]

Product Information

The film's original running time was 124 minutes. Due to the content, the MPAA gave Miramax a choice of either an X rating or go unrated (adults only) for theatrical release. Unrated was chosen in light of the X rating being more associated with pornographic films. Two versions of the film were released on VHS in the 1990s. One was an R-rated cut running 95 minutes (mainly for large video store chains); the other was the original version. Greenaway has a love of criticisms of culture and societal structure. Spica is a cruel and distasteful vulgarian, created to be despised and destroyed. Georgina simply is a person who may have found the joys in pleasures of daily living – food in particular is a sustaining pleasure to her, and sex gives her some escape from the trauma of her marriage, yet it is fitting that she transforms into a being who brings forth justice in her revenge – we are grateful for her snapping point after witnessing such suffering. We recognize the rich table set before such metaphorical swine as Spica and his thrall as symbolic of those in power who revel in the spoils they steal from the commoner, while enjoying the debasement of those that they exploit and violate, laughing all the while. There is gratification in watching the corrupt be called to justice, and in watching their destruction. Truthfully, a part of each of us would likely gladly extract our pound of flesh from these monstrosities, given a chance, and reclaim some of what we have had stolen from us, while returning the gift of suffering such men in power dispense to all below their station, to remind us who is in charge. It’s not surprising that Georgina takes a lover, a bookish sort named Michael (Alan Howard) who often dines alone at the restaurant. Before long, Georgina and Michael are sneaking off to toilets and pantries for sex while Albert gorges on food. The restaurant’s cook (Richard Bohringer) helps the lovers. Later, when Albert learns of their deception, he exacts a hideous revenge. And then Georgina goes him one better with a unique last supper. I’ll spare you the details, but those with sensitive stomachs may bolt for the exits. Jean-Paul Gaultier designed the costumes. Italian chef Giorgio Locatelli prepared the food, used as props.

The Cook the Thief His Wife & Her Lover" is one of the most grotesque, eschatological, bizarre and weird films that I have ever seen. But it is also absolutely original and mesmerizing, with intense use of colors, and with the contrast of vulgarity and art. Food, eschatology, sex, cruelty, torture, cannibalism and revenge are entwined along 124 minutes running time. The result is not pleasant and only specific audiences will appreciate this film. Last time I had seen this film was on 08 September 2000 on VHS. My vote is eight. Liz Smith as Grace, Spica's mother, somnolent and no more suited to the enjoyment of fine dining than her son. And as mentioned before, it's that odd, twisted humanity that makes Albert Spica feel, in a way, genuine. Without that wrinkle to the character, there is a chance that the film's principal antagonist would feel silly, and perhaps less like a genuine threat. It's his credible evilness and capacity to continue doing harm that makes him so easy to root against, allowing the eventual revenge of his wife (the details of which are probably too disturbing to detail here... but also, it would be doing the film a disservice to discuss) to feel all the more satisfying. And, at the risk of sounding like a broken record, it's Michael Gambon who was essential in making this character work. Albert Spica would've been an immensely difficult character to play, and getting into the headspace of such a man (even a fictional man) would've likely been upsetting. It's a testament to Gambon's acting skills that he pulled it all off, and portrayed a film villain for the ages. Peter Greenaway creates a true villain with Albert, one that no one can like or desire to imitate. Albert is a bully, rapist, and a misogynist, whose traits are greed & arrogance. Albert isn't just a smug rich man though, he definently has his deficiencies, which can be seen with his envy. There's a scene where Albert ruins one of his wives dishes as a practical joke, when he's done pouring wine on the expensive meal the camera cuts to showing the hard work of the chef and kitchen, which represents the destructive path Albert has. The greatest scene of the film is when the affair begins in the restroom, and Albert comes in. Standing outside the stall the intensity reaches an all time high. It's interesting that Albert behaves at his worst in restrooms after this.ÂHelen Mirren as Georgina Spica, "The Wife": The sophisticated and battered wife of Albert Spica, from whom she has unsuccessfully tried to escape. Richard Boarst (played by Richard Bohringer) is the chef of Le Hollandais, a lavishly large and atmospheric restaurant where he must abide by the new owner's strict demands in preparation and presentation. Albert Spica (played by Michael Gambon) is the mobster who owns Le Hollandais. A sadistic and greasy figure who is bossy and cruel not just to the chef, but also to his underlings as well as his wife. His wife Georgina (played by Helen Mirren) is in an abusive relationship with her husband who constantly harasses her sexually, mentally, and physically in front of everyone though she is no strong enough to break away from him. Then there is Michael (played by Alan Howard), a bookshop owner who dines nightly at Le Hollandais while reading. It is at the restaurant that he and Georgina start a sexual relationship, but what will become of them once the sadistic husband finds out about their new relationship?

Albert Spica ( Michael Gambon ) is an imposing criminal boss, who has decided he will shine his patronage upon his favorite restaurant, Le Hollandais. We are introduced in a scene in which we see a man debased and beaten, ending in scatalogical humiliation. Spica has elbowed his way to part “ownership”, prepared from the start of the film to bully his way to the forefront, each night bringing in his crew of henchmen and his long-suffering and traumatized wife Georgina ( Helen Mirren ) into the restaurant where he can openly display his brash and uncultured tastes at the dinner table as lavish feasts are presented for his consumption by the Cook, Richard Boarst ( Richard Bohringer ). Georgina herself seems to bear herself with elegance and a nuanced taste that goes undeserved by her husband, who constantly abuses and terrorizes her. The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover is a 1989 crime drama art film written and directed by Peter Greenaway, starring Richard Bohringer, Michael Gambon, Helen Mirren and Alan Howard in the title roles. An international co-production of the United Kingdom and France, the film's graphic violence and nude scenes, as well as its lavish cinematography and formalism, were noted at the time of its release. This lengthy vintage documentary has Greenaway in Munich, Dusseldorf, and Amsterdam discussing about art, filmmaking, his career, his style and more, which is also interspersed with clips from his early works. In addition there is a lengthy segment on an art installation he produced featuring various nude models, plus a lengthy behind the scenes look at the making of "Prospero's Books", released the previous year. Audio is offered in English 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio with optional English subtitles. This is the original theatrical Dolby Stereo matrixed four-channel mix, and it has a nice sense of spaciousness when decoded. The surrounds are primarily used for ambience, but they make the large spaces such as the kitchen feel truly cavernous—it’s still an immersive mix, even with limited directional effects. The dialogue is clear, and Michael Nyman’s classic score sounds superb.

Gold, Richard (21 March 1990). "For Peter Greenaway, gaining distribution in U.S. for 'Cook, Thief' a battle". Variety. p.7. Albert comes to the restaurant each night and holds court with his entourage and Georgina, while criticizing Richard's menu choices. Georgina notices a quiet regular customer, Michael, who is always reading. The two begin a clandestine affair with most encounters occurring in the restaurant itself. Georgina believes that if she engages in her affair in Albert's place of business, it will be easier to keep hidden from her husband. Stunningly photographed by Sacha Vierny, this unnerving film takes place mostly in a cavernous French restaurant called Le Hollandais. The main room is dominated by a 1616 painting by the Dutch artist Frans Hals, A Banquet of the Officers of the St. George Civic Guard Company. The dignity of the officers as they sup is a stark contrast to the crudity of the hoods who chow down before it. His favorite directors include Martin Scorsese, Sergio Leone, Akira Kurosawa, Quentin Tarantino, Werner Herzog, John Woo, Bob Fosse, Fritz Lang, Guillermo del Toro, and Yoji Yamada. He's also very proud of the fact that he's seen every single Nicolas Cage movie released before 2022, even though doing so often felt like a tremendous waste of time. He's plagued by the question of whether or not The Room is genuinely terrible or some kind of accidental masterpiece, and has been for more than 12 years (and a similar number of viewings).