Peter Greenaway's surreal story has twin brothers (Brian and Eric Deacon), both zoologists, re-examining the meaning of life after a car accident involving a swan claims the lives of their wives. They study the decomposition of several animals with time-lapse photography, plot to liberate zoo animals, and begin a menage-a-trois with the one-legged woman who survived the crash.

Peter Greenaway directs this black comedy which revolves around three generations of women called Cissie Colpitts (Joan Plowright, Juliet Stevenson and Joely Richardson). When each of the women decides to drown their husband, they enlist the assistance of Coroner Madgett (Bernard Hill), who finds his job seriously compromised as a result. Meanwhile, Madgett's adolescent son Smut plays obscure folk games and becomes obsessed with collecting animal corpses.