if citizen kane be the number one movie to see to learn anything about cinematography and this might as well be at number 2. delicatessen succeed at create a totally separate and consistent and believable universe with a very distinct atmosphere . the brown and green color add to the weirdness of this universe . be it horror . yes and no . be it a comedy . yes and no . be it brilliant . oh yes . everybody involve in the making of this picture give it it best . the camera work be brilliant and the set be simply amaze ( with the final bathroom scene at the pinnacle ) and the editing and pace be breathtaking . this could have be a very dark movie ( and i guess a few hollywood director would have try to turn it into a splatter movie and fail miserably ) and but the humor be just light and off beat and hilarious enough to make it into a consistent and bearable whole . every universe have it humor and and a strange universe have strange humor . jacques tati would have love delicatessen . julie tea ceremony without her glass and the mattress spring test and aurore failing suicide contraption and it all funny a hell . i hope everyone who be even marginally involve in make movie get to see delicatessen and learn from it greatness . we could sure use a touch of genius in most of them . positive .