The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover

The Brief

In this film, director Peter Greenaway creates a cinematic universe characterized by rituals, violence and control. The action takes place almost exclusively in and around an opulent restaurant, where the thief (Michael Gambon) dominates both the space and the people around him through harassment and brutal use of power. The cook (Richard Bohringer) keeps the machinery running, while the thief's wife, played by Helen Mirren, begins a secret affair with a guest, hidden in the kitchen's back rooms and corridors. The costumes play a clear role in the film's expression. Helen Mirren's character moves through the restaurant in dresses that change color from room to room. Green in the kitchen. Red in the dining room. White in the bathroom. These shifts are distinct and break with classical continuity, while tying the costume closely to the room's rules of subordination and control. The clothes become inextricably linked to the film's architecture, marking position and consequence as clearly as the dialogue and action. Behind the costumes is avant-garde designer Jean-Paul Gaultier. By the late 1980s, he was already known for his work with provocation, excess, and an enduring interest in power, desire, and the body. In this film, the visual power of these themes continues in garments that enhance the film's stylization and confrontational expression. The screening will be introduced by playwright, author and Gaultier fangirl Runa Borch Skolseg.