The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover
Lust...Murder...Dessert. Bon Appetit!
Overview
The wife of an abusive criminal finds solace in the arms of a kind regular guest in her husband's restaurant.
Backdrop
What makes this movie Worth Watching
Set in a high-end restaurant, the film serves as a critique of the relationship between power, wealth, and culture within the upper class. The story also draws parallels with historical and political events, such as the French Revolution.
- The film offers a unique blend of dark comedy, crime drama, and psychological thriller that keeps viewers engaged.
- Michael Gambon's powerhouse performance as the menacing Albert Spica is a standout in British cinema.
- The movie's exploration of themes such as power dynamics, morality, and revenge make for thought-provoking discussions.
- Peter Greenaway's distinctive directorial style and unconventional narrative structure are fascinating to experience.
Fun Facts
- 'The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover' was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the 1989 Cannes Film Festival.
- The restaurant featured in the film, 'Le Chamberon Soupir', is a fictional establishment, but it was inspired by several real-life Parisian restaurants.
- The film includes references to art and literature throughout, including direct quotations from works by various authors such as John Milton, Charles Baudelaire, and St. Thomas Aquinas.
Available Languages
English
US
Title:
"Lust...Murder...Dessert. Bon Appetit!"
Deutsch
DE
Title: Der Koch, der Dieb, seine Frau und ihr Liebhaber
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Italiano
IT
Title: Il cuoco, il ladro, sua moglie e l'amante
"Lussuria ... Omicidio ... Dessert. Buon appetito!"
Português
PT
Title: O Cozinheiro, o Ladrão, a sua Mulher e o Amante Dela
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普通话
CN
Title: 厨师、大盗、他的太太和她的情人
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Norsk
NO
Title:
""
Where to Watch
Cast
Crew
Reviews
Having previously watched Greenaway's 'Prospero's Books', basically from the same era, one definitely gets a sense of the auteur, of great visualizing prowess in the Welsh native. I adore watching Helen Mirren from ANY era, but particularly here, in between the young adulthood beauty she displayed in Michael Powell's 'Age of Consent', through the remarkably absurd and audacious 'Caligula', straight to the sophisticated and very dangerous gorgeousness displayed in 'The Comfort of Strangers'.
It's great to see any dude who's mean to a beautiful woman get their comeuppance (particularly the wealthy--it offers a sort of 'wish fulfillment' for the 99% of us), and the climax here is one of cinema's most articulate presentation of that phenomenon. It definitely made me wish to see the rest of both Greenaway's movies and of Mirren's performances. Well worth the acquired taste necessary for this sort of delicacy.
Oscar Awards
Wins
Haven't Won A Oscar
Nominations
Haven't Nominated for Oscar
Media
Featurette
Steve Pemberton on The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover | BFI
Trailer
The Cook, The Thief, His Wife & Her Lover (HD) Trailer