The Belly of an Architect
An American architect's grand Roman exhibition becomes a grotesque crucible for bodily obsession, marital collapse, and mortal decline.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- cerebral
- grotesque
- oppressive
- arthouse film night
- architecture enthusiasts night
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as a visually audacious and intellectually rich art drama, though its stylization can distance viewers emotionally.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The exhibition of Étienne-Louis Boullée's oval structures frames the protagonist's fixation on form, proportion, and his own abdomen.
Stourley Kracklite's stomach pains and escalating concern with his belly dominate his emotional collapse.
Peter Greenaway combines elaborate tableaux, classical references, and ritualized exhibition scenes with Kracklite's deterioration.
Kracklite's illness and jealousy undermine his relationship with Louisa, his exhibition, and his position among the European architects.
Films like The Belly of an Architect, and why
The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover
formally stylized art drama, obsessive protagonist, and grotesque bodily imagery
The Draughtsman's Contract
architectural symbolism, psychological unraveling, and highly controlled visual composition
Last Year at Marienbad
European art cinema, marital collapse, and an intellectually charged portrait of obsession
Movie Details
- Director
- Peter Greenaway
- Release Date
- 1987-09-23
- Runtime
- 118 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (135)
Cast
- Brian Dennehy
- Chloe Webb
- Lambert Wilson
- Sergio Fantoni
- Stefania Casini
- Vanni Corbellini
- Alfredo Varelli
- Geoffrey Copleston
- Francesco Carnelutti
- Marino Masé
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Belly of an Architect about?
- An American architect's grand Roman exhibition becomes a grotesque crucible for bodily obsession, marital collapse, and mortal decline.
- What is The Belly of an Architect like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Belly of an Architect as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Belly of an Architect violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Belly of an Architect.
- What did critics think of The Belly of an Architect?
- Critics broadly regard the film as a visually audacious and intellectually rich art drama, though its stylization can distance viewers emotionally.
- Which films are like The Belly of an Architect?
- Films with a similar feel include The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover, The Draughtsman's Contract, and Last Year at Marienbad.
- How long is The Belly of an Architect?
- The Belly of an Architect runs 118 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Belly of an Architect?
- In United States, The Belly of an Architect streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
