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The Belly of an Architect
Writer-director Peter Greenaway (The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover) puts "the 'art' back into the art film" (The Hollywood Reporter) with this work of "pure visual poetry" (Boston Herald) that "celebrates Rome and its architecture with elegance and discernment" (The New York Times) and boasts Brian Dennehy's "best performance of his screen career" (LA Weekly)! American architect Stourley Kracklite (Dennehy) can't see the beauty in Rome throughhis pain. Intense stomachaches are crippling him and, worse, he believes his pregnant young wife ishaving an affair with his archrival! As his suspicions turn to paranoia and obsession, and his marriage, health and reputation begin to unravel, this once-respected man becomes consumed by his own self-torture from the inside out!
Manufacturer: TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT
Price: $2.79
 The Belly of an Architect
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| User Reviews |  | a very unusual and satisfying movie
rating: 5
This is the first film of peter greenaway that i have seen (his work has recently been recommended to me) and i found it to be quite an interesting experience..
This is a movie which follows the desintigration of an american architect who comes to italy with his wife to open an exhibition on a lesser known yet highly respected architect from france... The movie opens almost immediately into a metaphoric level when the husband and wife talk about the carniverous nature of architecture on a train after making love (later we discover that they conceived a child).. and the metaphors and almost hallucinatory nature of the movie continues to the very end of the film.. Dennehy's character has several parallels throughout the film - he is compared to boulley (the architect he is honoring), Augustus, and other famous Roman emperors and architects like hadrian.. As the film progresses he develops a great pain in his stomach which is equated to being poisoned by figs.. This sets the main character on an obsessive quest to map out his own insides as if he is taking his knowledge of architecture to the human body..
The strange thought provoking nature of this film combined with the striking visuals make it all very satisfying - and at the same time a puzzle which is very hard to describe... It certainly has made me curious to check out more of greenaway's films...
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Beautiful and Moving Film
rating: 4
Dreamlike, beautifully shot by great Sasha Vernie and equally disturbing (as all Greenaway's movies are), "The Belly of an Architect" (1987) tells the story of an American architect, Stourley Kracklite (Brian Dennehy) who came to Rome to work on the exhibition dedicated to the French architect of the 18th century, Etienne-Louis Boullee (1728 - 1799). Stourley brings with him his much younger wife Louisa with whom is passionately in love. Everything looks good for him - he's got a project of his dreams to work on, his wife is with him, and his Italian colleagues seem to be supportive and exited about the exhibit as much as he is. Soon, though, the things begin to change and look rather grim - Stourley's pregnant wife enters the affair with a younger man, the work does not move as quickly as it was planned and on the top of all, Stourley gets sick and perhaps more seriously than he thinks.
When I watch Peter Greenaway's films, I know they will be a feast for brain, eyes, and ears - his films consist of frames so perfectly composed that you want to capture every moment of them and exclaim like Goethe's Faust did, "Stay a while! You are so lovely!". The music in his films matches the visual beauty perfectly, and his outlook at the familiar world is always original and arresting even if it lacks warmth and sentimentality. "The Belly of an Architect" is all that: it is filled with symbolism and references to history, Art, and anatomy. It is also a social satire on difference between cultures but it is a compelling and moving story of one man's descending to chaos, hopelessness, despair, and eventually death. This is the first Greenaway's movie since "The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover" that made me feel compassion for its protagonist. I believe it is due to the incredible performance by Brian Dennehy - quite unusual name for a Greenaway's film but was he great as the architect of the title. Dennehy creates a character that is not likable as the film begins but heartbreaking and tragic by the end.
8/10
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"A Man Obsessed With Death...As Well As Life"
rating: 5
There are those certain films that contain both known, and unknown elements which have a way of drawing me to them: This is one of those films. Many times I cannot explain why a film captured my attention and held it, while other times I can. Maybe part of this is the characters in the films, while other times the cinematography and musical score can do it? But ALWAYS, it is the narrative of a film that has that magical touch that hooks me right in. And this film did it for me. I cannot guarantee that you will like this film; I sure did, but I do recommend that you at least rent the film and give it a look. I found the films beautiful and at times haunting musical score captivating, and it was perfectly matched with this film and the breathtaking beauty of Rome. Moreover, it was the acting performance by Brian Dennehy which I found to be incredibly outstanding!
Directed by Peter Greenaway, I believe this film to be his masterpiece. I know of others who point to his other works; however, this is my favorite film of his. And I think this IS his masterpiece. I found myself riveted to the character portrayed by Brian Dennehy, and was amazed at the performance he gave. For me, Brian Dennehy gave the performance of his life. "The Belly Of An Architect" stars Stourley Kracklight (Brian Dennehy) as an American architect who has traveled to Rome with his wife Louisa (Chloe Webb), in order to give an exhibition of his favorite architect. And once again, the scenery of Rome is a delight, and the musical score is truly outstanding.
Stourley Kracklight is the films main protagonist whose journey to Rome will be one of heartache, and bellyache---literally! His primary goal as an architect, and the reason he has traveled to Rome is to elevate the status of an architect he believes has been sorely neglected. This man in question is that of the 18th-Century architect Etienne Louis Boulee. Kracklight is in Rome to give an exhibition on the works and influence of Boulee, which Kracklight has devoted more than ten years of his life studying. However, events in Kracklight's life will take a different turn as he begins to have stomach pains. But it is not just his stomach that is bothering him; Kracklight is also having a mental breakdown. And this will only worsen as his own terminal illness and obsession with death begins to consume him.
Although there are other narratives taking place in the film, it is Stourley Kracklight's life and illness that is of primary focus. Yes, there is friction in his marriage with his wifes infidelities, and his own jealousies of the younger men around him. Some warranted, others not. But this film is about much more than a failing marriage. It is about a man whose obsession with death has consumed him. Dennehy's performance as a man obsessed with life as much as death permeates every scene he is in. He even goes so far as to write postcards to the long ago deceased Boulee. This film explores deep into the soul of Kracklight and his mental break with all those around him, and the saddening toll this takes on his life as he attempts to cope with his terminal illness, while also showing how his illness is effecting his creative process too. This film has always fascinated me, however, it may not appeal to all audiences. But I highly recommend the film. It's a terrific drama, and deserves at least a rent if your not sure of purchasing the film.[Stars: 4.5]
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Obsessions, art, death and confessions in the city of meat
rating: 5
"The belly of an architect" is as much about archticture and the art of filmmaking as it is about the story of Stourley Kracklite, an American architect who visits Rome with his wife to create an exhibition of his little known hero Etiènne Louis Boullée.
Rome, with its famous buildings and statues are as much a character as a background, its the city of meat and its breathing and throbbing. Director Peter Greenaway's approach (in collaboration with the French cinematographer Sacha Vierny) is that of an architect: flat and straight forward shots with a longing for tight composition and symmetry, big multi-structured panorama's and a keen eye for detail. Furthermore are all natural colors like blue and green filtered and only when the theme of death and decay come into the story, green is visible. All the rest are meat colors, brownish, redish, and the likes.
Just like Greenaway's obsessions for fimmaking and art in general, Stourley Kracklite's life is driven by obsession. And having an obsession means to hurt and to get hurt. Hurt because all other things in life come second, even family and personal health.
Dedicated to create a exhibition which will do justice to the works of the unknown Boullée, Kracklite neglects his wife and his health and slowly descends into paranoia. Is his wife cheating on him or not? Is his stomach really ill, is he being poisoned? Is everybody involved with his quest for recognition Boullée (and in a way: for himself) really just after his money and does no one in fact really care?
Kracklite then turns to the only person he can trust: his long deceased hero Boullée to whom he starts to write postcards. Kracklites introduces himself, talks, asks questions, wonders, ponders and confesses, and finally, in a moment of truth, asks Boullée: "Supose you came here to open the exhibition? That would show them all!"
It's almost impossible to believe but this realtionship between a lonely fan and his long time dead hero, all through one-way-postcard-messages becomes more and more moving.
The film self is, like all Greenaway films ("A zed and two noughts", "The cook, the thief, his wife & her lover"), drenched in juicy black humor and fortunately so, because Greenaway is a kind of snob, boasting at times too much with his intelligence and powerhouse knowledge of art, and without mockery, self mockery or humor to `keep things bearable', the movie would surely drown in a big swamp of selfindulgence.
But the real heart of this movie ticks within the American actor who plays Stourley Kracklite: the heavy set, bearded Brian Dennehy. His performance shines and sparkles, his body, his stomach, and his sneering, sardonic voice, everything fits the bill perfectly. He is funny and tragic at the same time, you feel sorry for him but at the same time you keep up with him, respect him. Like him.
If this would be Dennehy's sole leading role (in Hollywood cinema he is the typical `always suporting actor') then he could still be proud.
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A visual feast
rating: 4
I saw this movie at the theatre many years ago and it left an imprint on me for it's visual style and Dennehy's great understated performance as the architect Kracklight(sp?). It is not a perfect movie - I thought the sound quality on the DVD was a little muted, the dialogue sometimes juvenile & the actress who plays Kracklight's wife annoying at the very least. With that said, I recommend the movie as of feast for the eyes & ears (Mertens score is perfect!).
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The Belly of an Architect
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