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The Draughtsman's Contract

1h 48m • Comedy, Drama, Mystery • 1982

AroView: The first of several masterworks from writer/director Peter Greenaway is a comedy of manners 17th century style - as floridly costumed as it is scripted.

Anthony Higgins is in fine form as a cunning, cocksure dandy who is hired for his drawing skills and gigolo services by the unhappily married matriarch of a lavish English estate. It plays like the missing link between “Barry Lyndon” and “Amadeus” (or even Blackadder), with a framing precision that would make Wes Anderson blush, and a Michael Nyman score that only adds to the knowingly ridiculous yet awe-inspiring conceit.

Director

Peter Greenaway

Languages

English, German, Dutch

Closed Captions [CC]

English

Country

UK

Studio

BFI

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