The Draughtsman’s Contract — The Draughtsman’s Contract(Blu Ray)

Part cuttingly amusing period drama, part ornate and charming puzzle, and part murder mystery. The Draughtsman’s Contract was the first feature film from the visually elegant, though at points devilishly dark British Auteur Peter Greenway. Here from the BFI is the deluxe 40-anniversary Blu-Ray edition of the film- taking in a new 4K scan of the picture, and a good selection of largely archive-based extras.

The Draughtsman’s Contract appeared in the year 1982. It was written and directed by Newport, Gwent, Wales born Peter Greenaway-who started off his career as a painter, before moving on to be the film editor for the Central Office of Information in the early 60’s- which led to him making his own shorts, documentaries, and of course feature-length films. In total, he has twelve features to his name, as well as sixty-six shorts/ docs. His feature lengths move from grief and decay-focused drama regarding two Twin zoologists who lose their wives in a car accident A Zed & Two Noughts (1985). Onto skewed romance and decadent revenge film The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover (1989), to strange and surreal exotic drama The Pillow Book(1996).
 
The film is set in 1694 and regards rather cocky at times arrogant young artist Mr Neville(Anthony Higgins) who is employed to draw the house and gardens of a wealthy landowner by his Mrs Herbert(Janet Suzman) while her husband is away on business. Between the ornate quill stroked credits we get a blend of pompously amusing stories, and Mr Nevillie and Mrs Herbert debating his fee and the terms of his contract- which turns out to be both monetary and flesh bound, as it’s agreed the artist can have his pleasure with the lady of the manor once a day. 
 
The nearly one hour and fifty-minute film is set in and around a grand country house and elegant estate in Kent. We of course get the setting up and progression of the agreed seven drawings- with Mr Neville voicing over his precise specification for each drawing. And the cutting and often very amusing barded interaction between the artists, Mrs Herbert and the others in the house- including Mrs Herbert's daughter- the very privileged but devious Mrs Talmann(Anne-Louise Lambert), and her highly pompous husband(Hugh Fraser). In the last forty minutes, a body turns up, and a loose murder mystery is added into the mix.
 
For a debut film Greenway's distinctive visual style and tone is already firmly set and realized, with elegant and balanced scoping, cleverly symmetrical and arty visuals, and the ornate-yet-often urgent contemporary-classical soundtrack by Michael Nyman. The acting of all involved is well realized, with the often-cutting dialogue delivery with both great flair and light comic timing. With throughout Greenway dropping subtle and less subtle visual clues, and analogies. All in all, it’s a beautifully crafted film, which fizzes with cuttingly amusing asides, light intriguing, and oh a rather darkly devilish resolve.

This new two-disc Blu-Ray set features a rather splendid 4k transfer, which really enhances this elegantly filmed picture- with Nyman’s soundtrack seemingly also having more punchy grandeur to it too. On the extras side, the two-disc feature just archive material- but this is all most worthy/ intriguing. We get a 2003 shot ten-minute introduction to the film by Greenaway. There’s a 2003 commentary track too. Otherwise the other larger extra here is The Greenaway Alphabet- a 2017 hour-long documentary made by Greenaway’s wife Saskia Boddeke. This as its title suggests runs down the alphabet( well most of it) of the director's life, starting with A for Amsterdam- where he now lives. The film also studies his close relationship with his fourteen-year-old daughter. As you’d expect we also get clips of his film work, as well as looks at his art creations- and it’s an informative, at times rather touching doc- which really gives a good idea of Peter Greenaway, the man and all that is important in his life. Otherwise, on the extras front, we get the following: Visions: A Film Comment by Angela Carter ( 21 mins): from 1982 the novelist’s TV review of The Draughtsman’s Contract. The Guardian Interview: Michael Nyman (7 mins): an audio-only 2002 interview with the composer discussing his work on The Draughtsman’s Contract score. H is For House ( 9 mins): a 1976 short film by the director. A Walk Through H (42 mins): Greenaway’s 1978 short depicting the symbolic journey of an ornithologist through a mysterious bird-filled country. Insight: Zandra Rhodes ( 15 mins): Greenaway’s 1981 profile of the fashion designer. 1981 Interviews with Janet Suzman, Peter Greenaway and Anthony Higgins (5 mins) Behind-the-scenes footage (5 mins), Deleted scenes and outtakes (11 mins total), Original theatrical trailer/ restoration trailer (2022) and Image gallery. The finished release features an illustrated inlay booklet taking in a new director’s statement and a 2004 essay by Peter Greenaway; essays by Simon Barker, Robert Brown (from Sight and Sound, Winter 81/82) and Charlie Bridgen; notes on the special features and credits.
 
The Draughtsman’s Contract is certainly a highly accomplished and distinctive debut feature film, and it’s great to see it getting this new 40th-anniversary release from the BFI- with the wonderful 4K scan, and a good/ rewarding selection of extras too. It would certainly be splendid to see more of Greenaway films get a spruce up- so here’s hoping the BFI have more planned in the near future.