Customer Reviews

Peter Greenaway: Drowning By Numbers

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It may be because it was filmed near where I live (Suffolk, England and the Nethertlands) It maybe it's quintessential Englishness and it's bizarre twists or it maybe that it's just a classic story of love, lust, trust and betrayal that ends in beautiful tragedy. This is only my favourite film of all time because of this book. Watch the film, read the book, then watch the film again (visit Southwold, drink a pint of Adnams, walk round the lighthouse, take a stone from the beach) then read the book. The book retells the lives of nine (then five, and in the end three) people who live a life so out of the ordinary it's probably happening in every town across the world. It deals with the relationships between men and women and hilights the games we play and what happens when we go too far.

Together with the Book: "Fear of Drowning" (see my review), this is all you will need to watch this Film over and over again, and enjoy it more every time. They both serve as wonderful companions. The book contains the exceedingly well written script to this incredibly complex, well thought out, multi-layered Film. Also included are the scenes that were cut, which I am sure all afficionados will find quite interesting, and a sort of list of the locations of the number count in the film, as well as some great photos.

I am not going to review the Film here. Look in the VHS Section for that. I will say that "Drowning by Numbers" is my favorite Film because of its complexity, playfulness, symbolism, its numerous allusions, beautiful cinematography, excellent acting and casting, wonderful music and of course, its Script, which this book is. To the person who enjoys the Film, this will surely make them enjoy it even more. Buy it, and start counting. One-Antares, Two-Capella, Three-Canopus, Four-Arcturus, Five-Agreetor, Six-Anektor.....