A Zed & Two Noughts

It's doubtful that Peter Greenaway's film has ever looked as good as it does in this excellent edition from the BFI. This new high-definition transfer really lets the minutae of the filmmaker's craft shine out, accentuating his use of light and shadow to mimic the paintings of Vermeer. The sound is nothing special but Michael Nyman's scoring sings out perfectly acceptably.

Most of the extras here were contained on the BFI's previous DVD release of the film. The seven minutes of extracts from ?O, Zoo! - a making of documentary about the film - are the most superfluous, but still worth a look for the snippets of on-set footage they contain. Sitting at the heart of the package, however, is the director himself, who provides an excellent introduction to the film - outlining what he views as the main themes - sleevenotes and an engrossing commentary track.

Speaking about the film, he takes no prisoners - touching on topics that range from the debate concerning creationism/Darwinism, siamese twins and Vermeer's life and slapdash attitude to painting floors, to the fact that, according to scientists, snails may well (sort of) inherit the earth. This is mixed with interesting and enjoyable information about the shooting of the film itself, including how they came to be given free-rein with a rhino and the difficulties of shooting at night. Despite the academic nature of some of the themes discussed, however, it's fascinating to hear him rail against those who, he believes, make a false distinction between 'high' and 'low' culture.

He is not afraid to critique his own work, either, discussing the perils of second films and saying that if ever he were to remake one of his own movies, this would be the one he would pick. It's testimony to the visual splendour of the film that watching it, stripped of narrative, with just the commentary, is at least, if not more, enjoyable than watching the film itself.

The BFI has also gone the extra mile on the additional material for the DVD, also including a rarely seen Central Office of Information film The Sea In Their Blood - directed by Greenaway and edited by John Wilson with music by Michael Nyman, who repeat those services on the main feature.

It's a 28-minute documentary curiosity, examining the role of the sea in everyday British life - imagine, if you will, a tourist information film presented as a quiz. Adopting a strident tone that fits wonderfully with Greenaway's images of the sea at its most destructive, a narrator presents more facts than you would probably find in an entire series of Coast, as Greenaway and Wilson intercut images of the sea and coastal life with slide shots of wildlife. Watching it now, it is also has a historical fascination, as we are told there are (as of 1976 when the film was shot) 29 Japanese restaurants in London and one in Milton Keynes and that only three per cent of fish is eaten steamed. More chilling perhaps is the assertion that sea waters are rising by "one sixteenth of an inch per year", the escalation of which since then might make us all want to consider our own ongoing relationship with the environment.

All in all, yet another superb package from the BFI.