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Drowning by Numbers Details

DVD Certificate 18.gif
  • Rated:
  • 80
  • from 138 members

When you don't like your husband very much, murder may seem a drastic solution. Unless of course you decide to drown him and you are a close personal friend of a compliant coroner... So far, so good. But, what happens when other members of your family decide to follow your example? 'Drowning By Numbers' is a sharp and witty .. Read more

Starring Bernard Hill, Joan Plowright, Joely Richardson, Juliet Stevenson
Director Peter Greenaway
Genres Comedy

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Drowning by Numbers cover art

Drowning by Numbers

When you don't like your husband very much, murder may seem a drastic solution. Unless of course you decide to drown him and you are a close personal friend of a compliant coroner... So far, so good. But, what happens when other members of your family decide to follow your example? 'Drowning By Numbers' is a sharp and witty tale of female camaraderie with the legendary Joan Plowright, Juliet Stevenson and Joely Richardson giving first-class performances. Bernard Hill co-stars in this jet black comedy of manners from master film maker Peter Greenaway. The film's charming pastoral setting overflows with metaphors and mathematical riddles, in a film that will continue to amuse for countless viewings.

Starring Bernard Hill, Joan Plowright, Joely Richardson, Juliet Stevenson
Director Peter Greenaway
Run time DVD: 1 hr 58 mins
Certificate DVD Certificate 18.gif
Genres Comedy
Released DVD: unknown
Format DVD

  • Critics' reviews (2) of Drowning by Numbers

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  • 2 stars out of 4

    Cynical black comedy, beautifully played and more accessible than this director's earlier work, although with some obscure formalism.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide
    • Posted 02 Mar 2006

  • Obsessed with obscure English folk games and father to corpse-collecting Smut, coroner Madgett becomes involved with... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out
    • Posted 04 Nov 2008

  • Most helpful member's review of Drowning by Numbers

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  • 20 out of 21 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Superb, must-see... and unavailable

    This movie is the reason I signed up for DVD rental. Sadly, despite being listed on this service, it is unavailable, with no date for when it will become available.

    Drowning By Numbers is quite frankly the best arthouse film ever made, the story of five husband-killers, their oddball associates and eccentric lifestyle in the rural English coast.

    The drownings form a mere back-story to a longer and far more complicated series of games and pastimes thought up by Smut, the perpetually occupied son of the local coroner. Anyone brought up in an isolated rural community who constructed their own games to pass their childhood time will find this eccentricity strangely familiar.

    Unfortunately this DVD has been deleted for several years. I'd hoped that since it came up on a listing for this service, they would actually have an old copy available, but it would seem not. I can't help but feel somewhat cheated out of my money.

      • ANDREW OAKLEY from Gloucestershire, UK
      • Posted 04 Jan 2006 15:23

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Rating breakdown

138 Member ratings
  • 100
33
  • 90
26
  • 80
27
  • 70
16
  • 60
12
  • 50
6
  • 40
5
  • 30
5
  • 20
5
  • 10
3

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    • Drowning by Numbers

    • Drowning by Numbers
      When you don't like your husband very much, murder may seem a drastic solution. Unless of course you decide to drown him and you are a close personal friend of a compliant coroner... So far, so good. But, what happens when other members of your family decide to follow your example? 'Drowning By ...