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The Draughtsman's Contract

Play trailer 1:32 Poster for The Draughtsman's Contract R 1983 1h 48m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
97% Tomatometer 32 Reviews 85% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Set in a richly exaggerated 17th-century England, Peter Greenaway's witty, stylized, erotic country house murder mystery catapulted him to the forefront of international art cinema in 1982. Adorned with intricate wordplay, extravagant costumes and opulent photography, Greenaway's first narrative feature weaves a labyrinthine mystery around the maxim "draw what you see, not what you know." An aristocratic wife (Janet Suzman) commissions a young, cocksure draughtsman (Anthony Higgins) to sketch her husband's property while he is away--in exchange for a fee, room and board, and one sexual favor for each of the twelve drawings. As the draughtsman becomes more entrenched in the devious schemings in this seemingly idyllic country home, curious details emerge in his drawings that may reveal a murder. Bolstered by a mesmerizing score by then-newcomer Michael Nyman and stunning cinematography by Curtis Clark, The Draughtsman's Contract is a luscious cinematic banquet for eye, ear and mind.
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Critics Consensus

Smart and utterly original, The Draughtsman's Contract is a period piece that marks the further maturation of a writer-director with a thrillingly unique vision.

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Critics Reviews

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Peter Bradshaw Guardian 11/10/2022
5/5
The Draughtsman’s Contract has a singular brilliance. Go to Full Review
Mark Kermode Sight & Sound 02/07/2019
Agatha Christy this ain't, but it is weirdly wonderful. Go to Full Review
Alan Morrison Empire Magazine 02/07/2019
4/5
A well-constructed plot that's both playful and thematically significant. Go to Full Review
Julian Singleton Cinapse Jul 11
The Draughtsman’s Contract is a fantastic debut film from Greenaway whose ambiguous approach to its mystery and myriad details lends itself to rewarding repeat viewings. Go to Full Review
Gary M. Kramer MovieJawn 06/28/2023
An intriguing murder mystery, a cheeky satire on English class, and a naughty sex romp—rendered in such a rigorous way that it requires steadfast attention.... The point of all the provocation is simply that nothing is quite what it appears to be. Go to Full Review
Rob Aldam Backseat Mafia 11/17/2022
Ensuring that The Draughtsman’s contract is a feast for the ears, eyes and mind. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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bill c @RT42039299 12/04/2024 If yesterday were today ( 1980’s). This is a work of art and an emulation of boy becomes man meets contractor understands Tim Burton . Achieved primarily through circumstance but highly probable, due to its timeless nature. . See more S R @ScottR 02/26/2024 1001 movies to see before you die (added later). Unique and pompous. Not really my cuppa, but it was well written and directed. RUS. See more Leaburn O @RT35452347 07/28/2023 A veritable masterpiece of British cinema and voted amongst the BFI top 100. The cutting dialogue full of witty barbs is coupled with mystery and scheming. A daring piece of direction makes this an atypical period piece and constantly alluring to imbibe. See more william d @acsdoug 08/21/2021 It took me a while to adapt to the cadence and vocabulary of the characters. I'm not really sure if people in 17th century England really talked that way, but it feels authentic, a necessary feature since the film consists almost entirely of set piece dialogue between the characters. I'm stopping just short of recommending the film, however, since I did not find the story particularly interesting. See more 12/05/2020 Life in fragments, through windows, framed. Draughtsman needs an evening of contemplation as all the micro plots cogitate in your mind and you figure out what you saw. A murder mystery, comedy of manners or lack thereof as Britain transitions to a more entrepreneurial educated, class fluid society through the constitutional monarchy and into the 18th century. Sexually raw, primal, manipulative; it's a power play piece where the aristocracy ultimately wins because they can. Blackadder's world with great country house, a classic Michael Nyman soundtrack to Greenaway's dynamic direction. Rollicking. See more 04/27/2020 My favorite Greenaway film so far. I loved the erudite dialogue, the formal, painterly cinematography, and the way the film functions as a puzzle for the viewer to solve. See more Read all reviews
The Draughtsman's Contract

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Movie Info

Synopsis Set in a richly exaggerated 17th-century England, Peter Greenaway's witty, stylized, erotic country house murder mystery catapulted him to the forefront of international art cinema in 1982. Adorned with intricate wordplay, extravagant costumes and opulent photography, Greenaway's first narrative feature weaves a labyrinthine mystery around the maxim "draw what you see, not what you know." An aristocratic wife (Janet Suzman) commissions a young, cocksure draughtsman (Anthony Higgins) to sketch her husband's property while he is away--in exchange for a fee, room and board, and one sexual favor for each of the twelve drawings. As the draughtsman becomes more entrenched in the devious schemings in this seemingly idyllic country home, curious details emerge in his drawings that may reveal a murder. Bolstered by a mesmerizing score by then-newcomer Michael Nyman and stunning cinematography by Curtis Clark, The Draughtsman's Contract is a luscious cinematic banquet for eye, ear and mind.
Director
Peter Greenaway
Producer
David Payne
Screenwriter
Peter Greenaway
Distributor
Zeitgeist Films / Kino Lorber
Production Co
Channel Four Films, British Film Institute
Rating
R
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 19, 1983, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Dec 2, 2022
Runtime
1h 48m
Aspect Ratio
1.66:1