MovieChat Forums > The Draughtsman's Contract (1982) Discussion > I actually thought this was a symbolic m...

I actually thought this was a symbolic movie about checkers

posted 16 years ago by cult_classics
4 replies | jump to latest

Lol, forgive me. By coincidence just a week before i sought out this movie i read an obscure line by a Pre-Socratic philosopher and had to get out my dictionary to look up the word "draughts", which literally means checkers (the board game). After learning of this film for some reason i imagined a complex allegory akin to Guy Ritchie's Revolver, or at least a film about a character who's just a piece in a larger game, with a contract to unknown parties. I assume after watching this film i am wrong, but admittedly i didn't understand it all, and just learned of the 4+ hour directors version and now i'm actually wondering. Was this possibly a play on words? Perhaps a bit of a double entendre?

"Confess quickly! If you hold out too long you could jeopardize your credit rating."

[–] PillowRock 16 years ago

or at least a film about a character who's just a piece in a larger game

Actually, .....
It could be argued that this is not an inaccurate description of what happens in this movie.

[–] cult_classics 16 years ago

I've only watched the film once, can you elaborate a bit for me?

"Confess quickly! If you hold out too long you could jeopardize your credit rating."

[–] PillowRock 16 years ago

or at least a film about a character who's just a piece in a larger game

Actually, .....
It could be argued that this is not an inaccurate description of what happens in this movie.

I've only watched the film once, can you elaborate a bit for me?

There are high stakes games going for the long term control of the Herbert estate and fortune.

Mr. Neville is manipulated into playing roles of others' choosing on multiple fronts of those games. He is maneuvered into siring a child which will provide longer term stability for the family's position (one which is not likely to be conceived otherwise, due to Mr. Tahlman's impotence and / or compete lack of interest in sex with his wife). Mr. Neville is also manipulated into the position of becoming the scapegoat for the murder of Mr. Herbert, thereby providing protective cover for the actual killer(s).

Mr. Neville is essentially being used as a chess piece in a game that he doesn't even know is being played ..... until it is way too late for him.

[–] cult_classics 16 years ago

Wow, nice insight there. I'll consider that when watching again.

I wonder if this wasn't another play on words like Z00, even though i have no idea whether Greenaway chose the new title after Hedgecutters was truncated.

"Confess quickly! If you hold out too long you could jeopardize your credit rating."