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

Color:

Color

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.

A happily married Frenchman must go to Japan on business and there, he meets an intriguing and beautiful woman...

This is a beautiful film.

The story stays very close to the book I had already read twice (around 10 years ago then 6 months ago). The adaptation is faithful to the author, and even if there's not much words, the intensity of the feelings is always present. The actors convey these feelings very well, with deep sensitivity and great sensuality (just watch when Hervé is in the Japanese wooden tub, and the girl pours water on his face and lips with her fingers). The settings and sceneries are overwhelming: there's so much beauty-like the snow covered trees in Japan, the Joncour garden, ... François Girard had already shown how a fantastic Director he is with his 2 previous films, and now with Silk! He has such a strong aesthetic sense, and a great way to direct actors...