The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, & Her Lover

Friday, June 7 - Thursday, July 11, 2024

35th Anniversary!

Every night, mobster Michael Gambon drags long-suffering wife Helen Mirren and a retinue of henchmen (including Tim Roth) to the high-end Le Hollandais for a sumptuous meal. But when he discovers her affair with a customer, Gambon commits an act of gruesome violence, and she stages an elaborate, full-course revenge. With costumes by Jean Paul Gaultier and a score from his longtime collaborator Michael Nyman, Greenaway’s arthouse blockbuster still shocks and surprises.

Not available to stream anywhere, this is bold, confrontational filmmaking that demands to be seen on the big screen.

  • Country Netherlands, UK, France
  • Language English, French, Dutch with English Subtitles
  • Year 1989
  • Running Time 124 minutes
  • Format DCP
  • Distributor Universal
  • Director Peter Greenaway
  • Cast Richard Bohringer, Michael Gambon, Helen Mirren, Alan Howard, Tim Roth
  • Accessibility Assistive Listening, T-Coil

IFC Center does not generally provide advisories about subject matter or potentially triggering content in films, as sensitivities vary from person to person. In addition to the synopses, trailers and other links on our website, further information about content and age-appropriateness for specific films can be found on Common Sense Media, IMDb and DoesTheDogDie.com as well as through general internet searches.