Page M12 September 19, 1990. This Week

SILVER SCREEN

This film completely concerned -
with sex, nudity, violence, etc.

HE COOK, THE
THIEF, HIS
WIFE AND HER
LOVER (Roxy) Be
warned! With this new
release British filmmaker
Peter Greenaway (Drown-
ing By Numbers) has
fashioned amovie contain-
ing elements that to some

SilveeSereen

By DAVID RYLAND

degree will disgust, shock
or offend virtually
everyone who views it.
During its two-hour run-
ning time audience mem-
bers will be subjected to
scenes of torture, rape,
befoulment, graphic ver-
bal abuse, murder and
cannibalism.

And to top it all off Greenaway
has dared to label this a comedy
(admittedly a very black one). In
the hands of a lesser director
this film’s excursion into the vile
excesses of humanity might
have turned into nothing more
than a sick, tasteless joke, but
with a combination of stagger-

ing visuals and passionate per-
formances, Greenaway and his
cast have managed to create a
work of shocking beauty that
both repulses and compels.

The story takes place almost
exclusively within the walls of
Le Hollandaise, a sprawling
French restaurant. Managed by
its cook (Richard Bohringer), the
dining establishment is virtual-
ly terrorized on a nightly basis
by its owner Albert Spica
(Michael Gambon of the Singing
Detective series), a vulgar and
cruel gangster who, with his
cronies and long suffering wife
Georgina (Helen Mirren) in tow,
abuses staff and patrons alike
with his vicious tirades.

One night, while Albert enter-
tains a group of underworld
buddies with his grotesque
brand of dinner conversation,
Georgina catches the eye of a
lone patron (Alan Howard),
reading as he eats. Georgina ex-
cuses herself to go to the wash-
room.

The gentleman inconspicuous-
ly follows and although no words
are initially spoken between
them, the two begin a pas-
sionate, (and knowing Albert's
nature) dangerous affair. Each
night as Spica blusters away at
the table, Georgina makes her

excuses, and with the help of the
sympathetic chef, meets her
lover in various rooms and al-
coves of the cavernous eatery:
With Greenaway’s story
rooted firmly in melodrama, it’s
only a matter of time until the
couple is found out, and while
violent tragedy does separate
the lovers, Georgina’s revenge
for years of torment proves ap-
palling but poetically justified.
One of the keys to making this

all work is the mesmerizing per-
formances of Gambon and Mir-
ren. Even when forced to utter
what amounts to no more than
smutty toilet humor, Gambon’s

makes the first and deepest im-
pression. And here his images
are not easily forgotten. Sultry
camera movement, theatrical
lighting, bold set design, and an

center in favor of its brilliant
surroundings and excessivea-
ture.

At its best, Cook, Thief, Wife
and Lover is a stunningly-made

THE COOK,THE THIEF, His wife and Her Lover is the title of Peter Greenaway’s offbeat film
starring Helen Mirren as the wife and Michael Gambon who plays the part of a gangster

mortifying portrayal of the ogre-
like Albert is a powerhouse of
hate and ugliness. This in turn
makes the passion, dignity and
quiet terror of Mirren’s work
even more poignant.

The real star of this film
though, is Greenaway's superla-

tive talent for visual composi-

tion. As an accomplished painter
and illustrator as well as
filmmaker, Greenaway knows
well that it is what we see that

Cutting Bench
Crimpers Ue.

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Price List

Hours:
MON., TUES, SAT.: 9 - 6
WED., THURS., FRI.: 9 - 8

SERVING YOU FROM 6
GREATER VICTORIA LOCATIONS

APPOINTMENT NOT
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1841 Fort St. Gateway Village 915 Esquimalt Rd.
595-2423 381-3351 380-1838
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attention ‘to the details of color
co-ordination that results in sur-
real costume changes, all make
even the most hideous goings-on
artistically compelling:

And for some that may be
Greenaway’s one misstep. In
taking events that should make
us turn away in revulsion and
draping them in carefully laid
out settings designed to dazzle,
he comes troublingly close to de-
emphasizing the film’s emotion

lock into the depths of human
depravity and passion. At its
worse, it is a stomach-churning
foray into pretentiousness and
vulgarity. As with most things
that present this kind of
dichotomy, personal preference
will loom as the ultimate judge,
but in this case the weak of —
stomach may not want to sit in
judgment at all. ***1/2 (R) Fre-
quent course language, nudity,
suggestive scenes and violence.

SOLID WASTE

MANAGEM

ENT PLAN

REVIEW
OPEN HOUSE

An open house is being held to discuss the
Region's Solid Waste (garbage) Manage-

ment Plan. Join us to

Present your views/concerns to Commis-
sioner Douglas Mackay, P. Eng.

Meet with CRD staff who will be available
to provide technical information on solid
waste and recycling.

Room)

DATE: Thursday, September 20, 1990
TIME: 2:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Ramada Inn (Topaz

3020 Blanshard St.

For further information contact the Capital
Regional District HOTLINE:

Cel)

383-2696