The Belly of an Architect
| The Belly of an Architect | |
|---|---|
 DVD cover |
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| Directed by | Peter Greenaway |
| Written by | Peter Greenaway |
| Starring | Brian Dennehy Chloe Webb |
| Music by | Wim Mertens |
| Cinematography | Sacha Vierny |
| Editing by | John Wilson |
| Distributed by | Hemdale Film Corporation |
| Release date(s) | 1987 |
| Running time | 120 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom / Italy |
| Language | English |
The Belly of an Architect is a 1987 film drama written and directed by Peter Greenaway, featuring original music by Glenn Branca and Wim Mertens.
The movie stars Brian Dennehy and Chloe Webb and contains numerous references to the work of the 18th century French architect Étienne-Louis Boullée. It was nominated for the Palme d'Or (Golden Palm) award at the 1987 Cannes Film Festival.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Plot
The American architect Stourley Kracklite has been commissioned to construct an exhibition in Rome dedicated to the architecture of Etienne-Louis Boullée. Doubts arise among his Italian colleagues to the legitimacy of Boullée among the pantheon of famed architects, perhaps because Boullée was an inspiration for Adolf Hitler's architect Albert Speer.
Tirelessly dedicated to the project, Kracklite's marriage quickly dissolves along with his health. His physical and social ruin in some way corresponds to the decline of his idol Boullée, who remained relatively forgotten until the twentieth century.
Kracklite becomes obsessed with the historical Caesar Augustus after hearing that Livia, the wife of Augustus, supposedly poisoned him. Kracklite assumes that his own wife Louisa has tried to do the same due to his increasing stomach pains.
[edit] Style
Director Greenaway's visual technique heightens Kracklite's alienation. There are few close-up shots of the other actors beside Dennehy, who himself is dwarfed by the dominance of the Roman architecture surrounding him.
Greenaway's trademark historical reenactments also compose a major theme: many visual images of the film appear to replicate major 18th Century works of art and architecture. In addition there are subtle references to Isaac Newton and the law of gravity, perhaps alluding to Kracklite's own inability to escape the physical laws of mortality.
[edit] Cast
- Brian Dennehy - Stourley Kracklite
- Chloe Webb - Louisa Kracklite
- Lambert Wilson - Caspasian Speckler
- Sergio Fantoni - Io Speckler
- Stefania Casini - Flavia Speckler
- Vanni Corbellini - Frederico
- Alfredo Varelli - Julio
- Geoffrey Copleston - Caspetti
- Francesco Carnelutti - Pastarri
- Marino Masé - Trettorio
- Marne Maitland - Battistino
- Claudio Spadaro - Mori
- Rate Furlan - Violinist
- Julian Jenkins - Old Doctor
- Enrica Maria Scrivano - Mother
[edit] References
- ^ "Festival de Cannes: The Belly of an Architect". festival-cannes.com. http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/422/year/1987.html. Retrieved 2009-07-19.
[edit] External links
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