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Prospero's Books (1991)
What can you expect from Peter Greenaway, besides a Greenaway film: Crazy, weird, and sensual for no reason,
I'm a fan of Peter Greenaway, and although I would hold up The Falls as my favorite Greenaway film (also one of his most eerily droll and unique films) and next to that, ZOO (Zed and Two Naughts, an extremely weird and grotesque work), I appreciate all of the films I've seen of his for their eclecticism, artistic beauty, and shear insanity. Drowning by Numbers, The Draughtsman's Contract, The Cook The Thief His Wife And Her Lover, The Short Films: All worth watching.
Prospero's Books, I have hesitated to watch for awhile, the reviews are bad (and somewhat understandable, though I staunchly disagree with the degree of negativism.) I think the film is one of Greenaway's most infuriating AND most interesting. I won't describe its plot, which is mostly just The Tempest, but you'd be hard-pressed to explicitly recognize that. It must be seen to be experienced. I can say it is more like a music video mixed with slam poetry in a distinct Shakespearean style, with rapid cuts, beautiful imagery, strange imagery, and a confusing, irritating barrage of dialogue basically screamed at you.
Despite its weaknesses, I love the psychological effects this film has on me. It is calming at times, but also tests one's patience, so in the end the reward isn't the plot but the effect of the images and sounds. It isn't a meditative film, it's a hit you over the head with a mallet of color and sound film.
Prospero's Books is not Greenaway's best, but it certainly is a valuable member of Greenaway's filmography. It is wildly underrated, but also insanely antagonistic to the audience.