Drowning by Numbers
Three generations of women with the same name have rid themselves of their unwanted husbands in the same manner - they drown them. The local coroner agrees to declare the deaths accidental in return for sexual favors. But when things don't go exactly as planned, he devises a final game that could result in the undoing of them all. A darkly humorous, twisted rendering from grim auteur Greenaway, boasting his trademark lush production design (marked by the sequential appearance of the numbers 1-100), surreal touches (like the fanciful voiceover narration delivered by a death-obsessed boy), and unflinching depictions of sex, nudity, and violence.
Member Reviews
1-100 - Gregg
A dark and unconventional drama (with at least a touch of black comedy) from British director Peter Greenaway, which is as to expected if you have seen any of his other films of which "The Cook the Thief His Wife & Her Lover" is probably the best known.
The plot as such centers on three women from the same family all named Cissie Colpitts who each choose to drown their husbands.
The film features some very unusual and disturbing but also compelling imagery. The subject matter and content is definately not for all viewers, but for those looking for something different it can be quite compelling and rewarding.
The cast includes some fairly well known British actors (Joan Plowright, Juliet Stevenson, Joely Richardson and Bernard Hill) who are quite good, but the performances aren't nearly as important as the story and the visuals.
One of the strangest aspect of the film is that the numbers 1 through 100 appear throughout the film sequentially thereby giving the film its title.
Member Reviews
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1-100 - Gregg
A dark and unconventional drama (with at least a touch of black comedy) from British director Peter Greenaway, which is as to expected if you have seen any of his other films of which "The Cook the Thief His Wife & Her Lover" is probably the best known.
The ...