Silk (2007/I)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

François Girard

Writers:

Alessandro Baricco (novel)
François Girard (screenplay)

Release Date:

21 September 2007 (Canada)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Love knows no borders

Plot:

The story of a married silkworm merchant-turned-smuggler in 19th century France traveling to Japan for his town's supply of silkworms after a disease wipes out their African supply. During his stay in Japan, he becomes obsessed with the concubine of a local baron.

Plot Keywords:

Silkworm | Travel | Japan | Concubine | Silk

Awards:

5 wins & 4 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Tue. July 14

4:40 AM

MAX

Cast

Sei Ashina	...	The Girl
Michael Pitt	...	Hervé Joncour
Tony Vogel	...	Café Verdun Man #1
Toni Bertorelli	...	Verdun
Keira Knightley	...	Hélène Joncour
Kenneth Welsh	...	Mayor Joncour
Martha Burns	...	Mme. Joncour
Alfred Molina	...	Baldabiou
Michael Golding	...	Clerk
Carlo Cecchi	...	Priest
Chiara Stampone	...	Béatrice Berbek
Marc Fiorini	...	M. Chabert
Leslie Csuth	...	M. Loiseau
Toru Tezuka	...	Japanese Guide
Hiroya Morita	...	Japanese Elder #1

Also Known As:

Seta (Italy)
Soie (France)

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality and nudity.

Runtime:

107 min | Canada:112 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

Canada | France | Italy | UK | Japan

Language:

English | Japanese | Latin

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

USA:R | Canada:14A | Singapore:M18 | Ireland:15A | Hong Kong:IIB | Taiwan:R-18 | Japan:PG-12 | Netherlands:12 | Finland:K-13 | Argentina:13 | South Korea:18 | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Baba House Museum, Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan

Company:

Rhombus Media

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Turkey was established in 1923 - there was no Turkey in the 19th century.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Hervé Joncour: Steaming water. Strange trees. Laughing children. Her skin... those eyes. But why should I tell you about it? Why now? Maybe I just need to tell someone about it. And that someone is you.

Slow but worth the wait.

This movie was very good. I know a lot of reviewers were bored and didn't like that there wasn't subtitles for the Japanese. Admittedly the issue with the subtitles would have made the movie easier to understand. In the middle of the movie there is some confusion about what exactly has transpired between Pitt and his Japanese contact and why the initial interlude between Pitt and the Japanese concubine occurs in the first place but these don't seem to be so dear to the plot that you can't remain in the dark and still get the point of the movie.

The landscape is breathtaking, the acting was great by every member of the supporting cast. I like Michael Pitt, but it seems like he can only play one character and it's the throaty sensitive guy. I was surprised that Keira Knightley took such a minor role but the punch at the end gives her character quite a bit of intrigue. As always she is wonderful and I liked Alfred Molina as well.

The cinematography was good and understated. The script was simple and it didn't seem like they wasted any words. Quite the opposite in fact.

I understand why others didn't like it but I get the impression that this is due to a lack of patience on their part.

Good movie. Try it out.