Mary (Natasha Richardson) and Colin (Rupert Everett, The Happy Prince) attempt to reinvigorate their flagging relationship with a romantic trip to Venice. Soon though, they find themselves drawn into a complex web of deceit, passion, perversion and sexual intrigue, subtly spun by mysterious Robert (Christopher Walken), who resides nearby in palatial splendour with his wife Caroline (Helen Mirren).
Adapted from Ian McEwan’s haunting novel by famed playwright Harold Pinter, The Comfort of Strangers is chillingly directed by Paul Schrader (First Reformed), and will lead you on a shadowy, dreamlike journey towards the darkest realms of human experience.
Presented in High Definition and Standard Definition
Audio commentary by director Paul Schrader, newly recorded for this release
Prospectus for a Course Not Given: The Paul Schrader Film Masterclass (1982, 100 mins, audio only): Paul Schrader provides an illuminating precis of the film course he had recently presented in America
Paul Schrader Guardian Interview (1993, 85 mins, audio only): the director discusses films and filmmaking with critic Derek Malcolm
Venice in War Time (1918, 1 min), The Glass Makers of Murano, Venice (1928, 4 mins), City Lights (1963, 3 mins): fascinating glimpses of Venice in archive film
Theatrical trailer
Illustrated booklet with full film credits and new writing by film historian Dr Deborah Allison, Guardian theatre critic Michael Billington and Little White Lies essayist Paul Fairclough
