It’s 1694 and a draughtsman, Mr Neville (Anthony Higgins), has been approached by a lady, Mrs Herbert (Janet Suzman), to make twelve detailed drawings of her country house. He agrees, contracting to draw in return for her sexual favours. He makes one further demand everything must remain in the same place while he draws.

The drawings proceed, all is serene, an English country house has never looked lovelier. Yet Mr Neville begins to notice windows, ladders, objects on the lawn have changed position. He himself is required to dispense sexual favours. A body is found in a ditch. The audience starts to wonder whether he should have paid more attention to the fine print in the contract.

In 1982, the wit and elegance of Greenaway’s film, its intentionally mannered performances, the ravishing cinematography and wonderful Nyman score got the critics worked up. Others found it a pantomime of the incomprehensible. You can make your own mind up deserved arthouse classic or pretentious nonsense.

Tantalizing wrapped in eroticism and presented with the utmost elegance. I have never seen a film quite like it a crossword puzzle for the senses. Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

In this exhilaratingly clever work, we can savour why we got so excited about Greenaway in the 1980s, without having to be reminded how he disappeared up a cul-de-sac of sterile self-parody. Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian

Playful, witty and viciously acerbic, The Draughtsman’s Contract is a sterling reminder of a time when British cinema could hold its head up high with the best that Europe had to offer. Jamie Russell, BBCi Film Reviews

This is non-genre, low-budget cinema, and some people will be irritated by its singlemindedness. DP, Time Out Film Guide