Greenaway is becoming one of my favorite filmmakers, a development slowed only by the limited availability of his films. He has a very recognizable style behind the camera, a good portion of the time spent being absolutely stationary. He seems to favor standing back for a wide angle view and letting the actors do their job. The way some of these shots develop is stunning, using every inch of the screen, using vivid color to his advantage, using clever and aesthetically pleasing composition to express something truly memorable.
The story was a classic one. I wouldn't say it's an overdone plot but it speaks of a theme common in modern society. We seek immortality in various ways, one of which is to seek a young mate, someone vital and virile and excitable, someone to make us feel young. But, beyond a certain point these relationships are unsustainable because the older partner can't keep up physically and the younger partner can't keep up intellectually. This film takes the theme and brings it to the extreme. The protagonist's health begins to fail as he's commissioned to work on an exhibit in Rome celebrating a classical architect. His younger, pretty wife begins to feel lonely because he only spends time with the project and his descent into infirmity. His wife is pursued by another and he is diagnosed with terminal bowel cancer.
Ultimately that's what the story is about, not too complex, no twists, not many surprises, but it's in the way the story is told that makes this film special. Using the ruinous architecture of Rome as a backdrop to Greenaway's obsessively intricate set design and frame composition, this film manages to be one of the most visually stunning of any I've ever seen.
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