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

Directed by Peter Greenaway, 1989
NC-17; 124 minutes; French and Dutch with English subtitles

When churlish mobster Albert Spica (Michael Gambon) acquires an upscale French restaurant in London, he dines there nightly, effectively scaring off the clientele with his bad manners. His wife, Georgina (Helen Mirren), is especially disgusted by him, and soon begins an affair with another restaurant guest, Michael (Alan Howard). Despite their efforts to keep it a secret, however, Spica finds out about their trysts, and plans to exact a terrible revenge.

Welcome to the Modern’s Exhibition Films, a series that showcases the concept of “art in motion” through artist-created films, documentaries about artists, and films that explore themes related to our permanent collection and special exhibitions. At select screenings, attendees can engage in discussions and participate in Q&A sessions; all films are shown in the Museum’s auditorium.

In concert with the special exhibition Alex Da Corte: The Whale, the Modern is excited to present the Alex Da Corte Film Series, in partnership with the Fort Worth Film Club. Select screenings will be accompanied by a newly recorded video discussion with Artist Alex Da Corte.

Curated by Da Corte, the films in this series span eras and genres, ranging from late 1940s Hitchcock to 1990s postmodern horror. Although the genres vary, each film plays with similar themes that intersect with Da Corte’s own work: color theory, subversion of forms and tropes, identity and persona, sex, and power. This curated series invites viewers to take the art outside of the theater or gallery and continue the conversation between the films and the exhibition.

The Fort Worth Film Club partnered in 2022 with the Reel House Foundation after the closing of Fort Worth’s lone art house theater: the Grand Berry Theater. Continuing what the Grand Berry started, the newly branded Fort Worth Film Club's goal is to build a community in Fort Worth around a shared love of film. The Fort Worth Film Club hosts free monthly screenings aiming for films with cultural and local importance. These screenings are open to the public and are followed by a moderated discussion.