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Peter Greenaway

Victor,

I think Greenaway would like to make movies that are "essential" and "elemental"- he always wants to get to basics. He uses strong imagery and almost delicate detail over a subtext of brutality and animal instincts.

"Prospero's Books" , I think was an attempt to really throw into the pot every reference and image he thought of- when you refer to it as "thick" I think that's actually Greenaway's intention- he wants that amazing density in his movies in which every aspect is rich and contributes to the theme. I once watched "Books" three times over a weekend once to try and absorb everything.

The brilliance I think of "Books" is the way in which Greenaway reveals the astounding proto-psychology of Shakespeare in which all the characters in "The Tempest" are actually spilt out components of Prospero's personlaity- Miranda is the feminine component, Caliban, the body/sensuality, Areial, his child element. "The Tempest" which is Shakepseare's most alchemical and psychological play seems impossible to film, but in this case Greenaway is brilliant.

Not every aesthetic decision is the best in my view- he likes to stay with the fundamental and sensational while in a very intellectual climate (see "Belly of an Architect"), but I would congratulate him on this particular treatment of difficult, subtle, literary material.

Greenaway was trained I think as a painter and does have a painter's eye for images, though in most of his work there is a high art way and some self-consciousness about the images.

As for the "soul behind", because his work is so varied in genre and uneven in quality, I would be curious to meet Greenaway or hear him speak about his work, he obviously has strong intentions but overall he is a bit mysterious. I place Greenaway in the category with Herzog- the movies have some similarities in character- and Herzog another director I'd like to pummell with serious questions over dinner.

Still, I find that with Greenaway I am usually at least fascinated by the movies as to their motivation and conception- he is an intriguing director if not always satisfying.

Cheers,

Bambi B

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