The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover
1989 · TMDB 7.3
Directed by Peter Greenaway
When churlish mobster Albert Spica acquires an upscale French restaurant in London, he dines there nightly, effectively scaring off the clientele with his bad manners. His wife, Georgina, is especially disgusted by him, and soon begins an affair with regular guest Michael. Despite their best efforts to keep it secret, Spica learns about their trysts, and he plots a terrible revenge.
Why it matters
Peter Greenaway's painterly banquet of a film, with Michael Gambon as a gangster who has installed himself in a restaurant and Helen Mirren as the wife who conducts an affair in its kitchen and meat locker. The food is exquisite, the cruelty is worse, and the final course is noto...
- Runtime
- 124 min
- Released
- 1989-10-13
- Studio
- Allarts
- Country
- France
- Language
- English
- TMDB score
- 7.3
KinoChain appearances
Chains through this film
Where this title sits in a journey — and where cinema takes you next.
The Neat Lawn Hides the Ear
Position 6 of 7
Peter Greenaway's painterly banquet of a film, with Michael Gambon as a gangster who has installed himself in a restaurant and Helen Mirren as the wife who conducts an affair in its kitchen and meat locker. The food is exquisite, the cruelty is worse, and the final course is noto...
Rewinding the Reel: How VHS Championed British Independents
Position 6 of 9
Peter Greenaway's sumptuous, shocking fable set in a restaurant where a brutish gangster (Michael Gambon) terrorises his wife (Helen Mirren) and her lover, with grotesque consequences. A feast for the eyes and a challenge to the stomach.
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Where this film leads
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