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Drowning by Numbers

Drowning by Numbers

Three Women And A Coroner.

19887.01h 59m

Overview

Cissie Colpitts drowns her cheating husband and, in the ensuing cover-up, enlists the help of lonely coroner Henry Madgett, an old friend with a longstanding weakness for her charms. But when Cissie's daughter and granddaughter—both also named Cissie Colpitts—decide to resort to the same methods for solving conflicts with their own frustrating husbands, the women and their repeated appeals for help begin to wear on Madgett's conscience.

Directed by Peter Greenaway
Written by Peter Greenaway
Produced by Kees Kasander, Denis Wigman
Box OfficeBudget: $1.5MRevenue: $425K

Top Cast

Joan Plowright

Joan Plowright

Cissie Colpitts

Juliet Stevenson

Juliet Stevenson

Cissie Colpitts (Daughter)

Joely Richardson

Joely Richardson

Cissie Colpitts (Granddaughter)

Bernard Hill

Bernard Hill

Henry Madgett

J

Jason Edwards

Smut

Bryan Pringle

Bryan Pringle

Jake

Trevor Cooper

Trevor Cooper

Hardy

David Morrissey

David Morrissey

Bellamy

John Rogan

John Rogan

Gregory

P

Paul Mooney

Teigan

Themes & Keywords

drowningdark comedydysfunctional familyavant-gardecoronersuffolk, englandindependent filmexperimental filmcrime comedywidowhood

About Drowning by Numbers

Drowning by Numbers is a comedy, crime, drama film released in 1988 exploring themes of drowning, dark comedy, dysfunctional family, avant-garde, coroner, suffolk, england. Directed by Peter Greenaway, it stars Joan Plowright, Juliet Stevenson, Joely Richardson. Cissie Colpitts drowns her cheating husband and, in the ensuing cover-up, enlists the help of lonely coroner Henry Madgett, an old friend with a longstanding weakness for her charms. But when Cissie's daughter and granddaughter—both also named Cissie Colpitts—decide to resort to the same methods for solving conflicts with their own frustrating husbands, the women and their repeated appeals for help begin to wear on Madgett's conscience.

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