The Greenaway Alphabet

"Cinema is a much too sophisticated medium to be left to storytellers", says Peter Greenaway in this first-rate portrait by his wife, Saskia. That statement couldn't summarise better neither Greenaway's films but also the documentary. Saskia Boddeke creates a compelling, irreverent, beautiful, funny, almost kubistic picture of the great British original.

Greenaway is much more than a filmmaker. First and foremost he is a painter. He's also as much a writer as a filmmaker. The documentary is based on running through the alphabet, letter by letter, and finding out what words Greenaway associates to the letters of the alphabet. It's also a study of the relationship between him and his 16-year-old daughter who take this trip together. One reason being Greenaway's plan to end his life own life when he turns 80. How serious he is about this is anyone's guess, but it would be a shame to lose such a creative person.

The Greenaway Alphabet is an intriguing, rewarding and revealing work, warmly recommended.