A Zed & Two Noughts (1985)

Like most Peter Greenaway films, the appeal of A Zed & Two Noughts is totally subjective. It all depends on one's tolerance for non-narrative filmmaking . Greenaway never gives the viewer an easy way into the film: plot details are doled in an off-hand, irregular fashion and the characters speak to each other in a series of cryptic sound bites dense with artistic and literary references that will be lost on many viewers. The film is easier to appreciate if approached as a puzzle box for the mind, one that happens to revolve around themes of birth, death, symmetry, and the slender differences between man and animal. Thus, A Zed & Two Noughts is pretty challenging fare but has plenty to offer the patient viewer. For instance, the film is impeccably crafted: Sacha Vierny's stunning cinematography overflows with eye-popping color and Michael Nyman's frenetic, hypnotic score rivals the most intense work of Philip Glass. The actors handle their difficult, often elliptical characterizations with skill, with Andréa Ferréol making the most vivid impression as the woman who changes the lives of the twin brother protagonists in an earth-shaking fashion. In short, A Zed & Two Noughts is not a film for those who love straightforward narratives but is well worth a look to adventurous viewers looking for a challenge that is easy on the eyes. ~ Donald Guarisco, All Movie Guide