3rd Feb 2012 The Cook, The Thief, His Wife & Her Lover

It's a crime drama, written and directed by Peter Greenway, presented with a hint of comedy, starring Richard Bohringer, Michael Gambon, Helen Mirren, and Alan Howard in the title roles. The film's graphic scatological, violent, and nude scenes, as well as it's lavish cinematography and formalism were apparently noted at the time of it's release in 1989, but it's the first time I saw it last night on Spanish TV. 

I was attracted first by Michael Gambon and Helen Mirren, both excellent actors who had never disappointed me in any of the films I have seen them in, whatever kind of rolls they played. Then, like the majority of people I bet, by the title of the film; very important that could often make or break the film. This one has certainly got the drawing power.

The plot, briefly, is about a notorious gangster Spica (Michael Gambon) who has taken over a high-class restaurant, run by a French chef Richard Borst (Richard Hogringer). Spica makes nightly appearances at the restaurant with his retinue of thugs. His oafish behaviour causes frequent confrontations with the staff and his own customers. Forced to accompany him is his reluctant, well-bred wife, Georgina (Helen Mirren), who soon catches the eye of a quiet regular at the restaurant, a bookshop owner Michael (Alan Howard). 

Under her husband's nose, Georgina carries on an affair with Michael, with the help of the restaurant staff. Ultimately Spica learns of the affair, forcing Georgina to hide out at Michael's bookshop. Borst sends food to Georgina through his young employee, a boy soprano, who sings while working. Spica tortures the boy, finding the bookstore's location written in a book the boy is carrying. Spica's men storm Michael's bookshop while she is away, and torture him to death by force-feeding him pages from his books. Georgina discovers his body when she returns.

Overcome with rage and grief, she begs Borst to cook Michael's body, and he eventually complies. Together with all the people that Spica wronged throughout the film, Georgina confronts her husband at the restaurant and forces him to eat Michael's cooked body. Spica complies, gagging, before Georgina shoots him in the head.

Now isn't all that intriguing? Sex, deceit, violence and gore, just the right ingredients for a thriller that guarantees a box office hit. 

Tags: lover, wife, thief

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