Rembrandt, Martin Freeman, is hired at great expense to paint members of the Dutch militia in all their glory. However, the militia's general mistreatment of others and specifically the murder of one of their number, prompts Rembrandt to hint at their treachery in his famous painting 'The Night Watch' much to their annoyance and such that they will eventually look to ruin him.
As with all of Peter Greenaway's films, lighting, colour and staging are all. He is an aesthete and as such the visuals tend to count more than the complexity of performance which makes him very much a matter of personal taste. That said, this is perhaps his most straight forward, accessible piece albeit every scene looks like a stage designed picture in a museum. The acting by most of the cast seems of little interest to Greenaway and it is often difficult to distinguish the motivations, character and actions from one to the next. That said, Martin Freeman is impressive in the lead as a clever, witty, vulgar man - Mozart in Amadeus anyone? - and holds your attention throughout. What is particularly impressive are the scenes with Eva Birtwhistle as his dying and beloved wife, Saskia, which are really very moving. Not for everyone, as usual then, but an absorbing piece looking as beautiful as ever and with a haunting score by Wlodek Pawlik.
As with all of Peter Greenaway's films, lighting, colour and staging are all. He is an aesthete and as such the visuals tend to count more than the complexity of performance which makes him very much a matter of personal taste. That said, this is perhaps his most straight forward, accessible piece albeit every scene looks like a stage designed picture in a museum. The acting by most of the cast seems of little interest to Greenaway and it is often difficult to distinguish the motivations, character and actions from one to the next. That said, Martin Freeman is impressive in the lead as a clever, witty, vulgar man - Mozart in Amadeus anyone? - and holds your attention throughout. What is particularly impressive are the scenes with Eva Birtwhistle as his dying and beloved wife, Saskia, which are really very moving. Not for everyone, as usual then, but an absorbing piece looking as beautiful as ever and with a haunting score by Wlodek Pawlik.