The Draughtsman’s Contract (Peter Greenaway, 1982)

Region 1 Zeitgeist (USA)
NTSC, 1.66:1 anamorphic widescreen
108 minutes
Audio: DD 2.0 surround English
Subtitles: Optional English SDH
Extras: Introduction by Peter Greenaway; audio commentary by Peter Greenaway; four deleted scenes; interview with Michael Nyman; Restoration Demonstration; stills galleries; original theatrical trailer

Released: 12 February 2008
keepcase
15 chapters

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Peter Greenaway’s The Draughtsman’s Contract is a challenging work, simultaneously cerebral and carnal. An artist enters a contract to create drawings of a nobleman’s estate. His meticulous methodology indicates great discipline and mathematical abilities. However, the price that he demands--sexual favors from the estate’s mistress--suggests a lack of propriety and morality. The character’s polar extremes is reflected in the movie’s other oddities, including living human statues and its progression from a critique of the privileged to a murder mystery. Well, I suppose the murder mystery itself is a critique of the British aristocracy.

Greenaway can be difficult for many viewers, but The Draughtsman’s Contract is a breezy romp that should entertain those who aren’t afraid of being shocked or offended.

Video:
The movie was shot on 16mm film and was then blown-up to 35mm film. You can tell the print’s origins as the 1.66:1 anamorphic widescreen (slightly pillarboxed on the left and right sides) image has obvious grain--sometimes heavy grain. Also, colors are a bit faded. However, considering its low budget, the movie looks fairly sharp and detailed. This disc is certainly an improvement upon the previous DVD. (Some ghosting indicates that this transfer may’ve been taken from a PAL source.)

Audio:
The DD 2.0 surround English track is not as dynamic as what one is used to hearing with today’s boomfests, but it capably reproduces the dialogue and Michael Nyman’s music. In fact, the music cues have none of the wobbliness that usually characterizes low-budget affairs. The mix is front-heavy, but too much surround activity in this case would’ve been a distraction.

Optional English SDH subtitles support the audio.

Extras:
This release boasts enough extras to be considered worthy of the “Special Edition” moniker even though the elegant cover art isn’t blemished by that marketing phrase.

Director Peter Greenaway contributed a lengthy video introduction as well as an audio commentary. Both are very informative and fascinating.

Next up are four deleted scenes with some wear-and-tear, but they’re not in bad shape. There are two behind-the-scenes footage reels, one of rehearsals/shooting and one of on-set interviews.

The disc includes an interview with music composer Michael Nyman that was conducted by a critic for The Guardian.

The “Restoration Demonstration” shows the creation of various video masters over the years, with the recent high-def restoration looking at least ten times better than the 1983 videotape release.

You also get two stills galleries.

Finally, you get the original theatrical trailer.

--Miscellaneous--
An insert booklet provides essays, chapter listings, and DVD production credits.