Details

Release year: 1989

Storyline

At an opulent gourmet restaurant, a woman carries on an affair with deadly consequences.

Top credits

Directors

Peter Greenaway

Writers

Peter Greenaway

Cast

Richard Bohringer — Richard Borst
Michael Gambon — Albert
Helen Mirren — Georgina
Alan Howard — Michael

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Did you know

• The four title characters were named for the actors and actress writer and director Peter Greenaway originally wanted to play them. Richard (The Cook) was for Richard Bohringer, the only one of Greenaway's original choices retained in the final movie. Albert (The Thief) was named after Albert Finney, while Georgina (His Wife) was for Georgina Hale. Michael (The Lover) was named, interestingly enough, for Sir Michael Gambon, who Greenaway eventually re-cast as Albert.

• Writer and director Peter Greenaway uses specific colors to represent each set of this movie. The exterior of Le Hollandais is predominantly blue. The kitchen is mostly green. The seating area of the restaurant is red, and the restrooms are stark white. The color of Georgina's (Dame Helen Mirren's) dress and the sashes that Albert (Sir Michael Gambon) and his associates wear change to match this scheme as the characters move from room to room. The color of Georgina's cigarettes also changes to match the color of the set as she moves. The interiors of Michael's home are mostly brown, like the blazer he wears throughout the story.

• The lengthy tracking shot from the restaurant to the toilet is supposed to be symbolic of food passing through the intestinal tract.