A Zed and Two Noughts (1986) - Peter Greenaway

Identical twins Oliver and Oswald Deuce both lose their wives in a car crash caused by a white swan.  Alba, the driver of the car during the accident, escapes alive, but without one of her legs.  The loss of their respective wives sends the brothers, who are zoologists, into a tailspin becoming increasingly obsessed with death and decay.   Plot descriptions of this film are almost worthless as Peter Greenaway's A Zed and Two Noughts is a insanely gorgeous experimentation of ideas.  Greenaway is not interested in realism, but rather much bigger over-arching themes which encapsulate life.   The most noticeable thing about this film is its stunning photography.  Greenaway's eye for compositions and meticulous tracking shots are in full display, often filling the frame both in depth and breadth.  Complimenting this, is some poignant lighting decisions which elicit feelings and mood.  The amount of symmetry in this film's photography is breathtaking, suggesting the systematic, calculative nature of life.  From a visual standpoint alone, this film is unquestionably a masterpiece.  Overflowing with symbolism, metaphors, and dense with ideas, this is the type of film that will require many re-watches to capture all the layers.    Greenaway is clearly infatuated with the life cycle of our world, evolution and the decay of all things, while also delivering a fresh take on grief. 
8/10

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