NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Vinegar Syndrome Labs Blu-ray (April 2025): Vinegar Syndrome Labs have transferred Peter Greenaway's The Belly of An Architect to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "Newly scanned & restored in 2K from its 35mm original camera negative". This restoration aligns with Vinegar Syndrome’s reputation for high-quality preservation. We reviewed the BFI Blu-ray from 2012, HERE - and have made comparison captures below. This new Vinegar Syndrome 1080P transfer has a higher bitrate and is a smidgeon superior with richer, deeper hues (Tablecloth, robe, apples etc.) and stronger contrast. It may be a titch sharper too. The golden hues of Rome’s Pantheon and Trevi Fountain are vividly rendered, with improved detail in the marble textures and cascading water. There is a slight shift in framing but overall I think the Vinegar Syndrome is the superior HD presentation - if only by a hair.

NOTE: We have added 50 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Vinegar Syndrome Labs use a DTS-HD 2.0 channel track (24-bit) in the original English language. The hum of Rome’s traffic, splash of the Trevi Fountain, and creak of the apartment floors are vividly rendered, complementing Sacha Vierny’s visuals. Practical effects like Kracklite’s coughing and the balcony thud are sharp, with the BFI offering a similarly immersive soundscape. Glenn Branca (a musician on The Mothman Prophecies) and Wim Mertens’ (his first feature composition) avant-garde score - featuring minimalist piano, percussive rhythms, and electronic textures - is presented with equivalent fidelity to the BFI. The hypnotic piano and dissonant guitar are crisp, enhancing the impact of certain scenes in The Belly of An Architect . The Vinegar Syndrome uncompressed audio is robust, matching the BFI’s presentation in clarity and immersion - both are faithful to the original. Vinegar Syndrome Labs offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Vinegar Syndrome Labs Blu-ray offers a new commentary by historians Eugenio Ercolani (Darkening the Italian Screen: Interviews with Genre and Exploitation Directors Who Debuted in the 1950s and 1960s) and Tony Strauss (co-author of Human Beasts: The Films of Paul Naschy,) discussing Greenaway’s career, his themes of birth and death, the film’s architectural themes, geometry / symmetry of framing, colors, how Greenaway presents Rome, and Vierny’s cinematography. They explore Kracklite’s obsession and the avant-garde score, offering insights into the 1987 production context. The commentary focus on Greenaway’s style complements the film’s intellectual tone. "Stately Progress" is an 18-minute featurette that includes editor John Wilson discussing his work with Greenaway, focusing on the film’s editing process and its thematic structure Wilson addresses the nine-month episodic format and its symbolic resonance. His insider perspective adds a technical layer, complementing the viewing. It’s valuable for understanding Greenaway’s collaborative process. "Caput Mundi" is a 1/2 hour interview with architect Gianpaolo Ercolani who explores the film’s architectural themes, discussing Boullée’s influence and Rome’s role. Ercolani provides insights into the visual metaphors of decay and permanence.

Peter Greenaway's The Belly of An Architect is one of the most visually striking films of the 1980s. Sacha Vierny’s (The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover, The Pillow Book, Last Year at Marienbad) cinematography serves Greenaway’s thematic and aesthetic vision, using symmetry and close-ups to explore the tension between human frailty and architectural permanence. The Belly of an Architect is set in Rome, with its baroque architecture - Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, St. Peter’s Basilica - serving as both backdrop and metaphor. The Pantheon’s domed interior, with its oculus casting dramatic light, and the Trevi Fountain’s cascading water are recurring visuals, symbolizing the enduring legacy Kracklite seeks to emulate. These settings contrast with his deteriorating health, their permanence underscoring his transience. The look of The Belly of an Architect is a masterful blend of baroque grandeur and modernist minimalism, defined by Vierny’s symmetrical cinematography and Peter Greenaway’s theatrical direction. The Vinegar Syndrome Blu-ray is a robust preservation effort, with the video matching or slightly advancing on the BFI’s quality. The supplements are an easily win for the newer edition with the informative commentary and two interviews. Greenaway fans hardly need my endorsement. I loved seeing this again. Recommended.

Gary Tooze