Taking inspiration from Elizabethan theatre and the Flemish Baroque masters, Peter Greenaway prepared a veritable banquet for the eyes that, paradoxically, is rather difficult to digest. The dazzling wardrobe was designed by Jean-Paul Gaultier. We follow the gangster Albert Spica (Michael Gambon), who dines every evening at the high-end French restaurant he has acquired in London. The clientele finds his lack of manners off-putting, as does his own wife, Georgina (Helen Mirren), who becomes involved with another diner. A dish of revenge, sex and murder is served, where the main ingredient is the use of colour.