Silk (2007 film)
| Silk | |
|---|---|
 A French poster for the film |
|
| Directed by | Francois Girard |
| Starring | Michael Pitt Keira Knightley Alfred Molina Miki Nakatani Koji Yakusho Callum Keith Rennie |
| Distributed by | Picturehouse |
| Release date(s) | September 14, 2007 |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $20 million |
Silk is the film adaptation of Italian author Alessandro Baricco's novel of the same name. It was released in September 2007 through New Line Cinema and directed by The Red Violin director, François Girard.
American actor Michael Pitt stars in the lead role of the French silkworm smuggler Hervé Joncour, with British actress Keira Knightley as his wife, Hélène. Japanese actors Miki Nakatani and Koji Yakusho are also featured. Exterior Japanese scenes were filmed in the city of Sakata. Knightley's scenes were filmed in Sermoneta, Italy, a small medieval village near Latina.
[edit] Plot
Hervé (Michael Pitt), in 19th century France, is a military officer, because that is what his father wants. He is happy when he gets the opportunity to change his profession to that of trader of silkworm eggs. Because in Europe silkworms are affected by a disease (pébrine), he is sent to Africa to get healthy eggs. (The film shows only a brief desert scene.)
Since the African silkworms are affected too, he is sent to Japan, even though at that time (the Bakumatsu period) almost all of Japan was off-limits to foreigners. The journey is by carriage and train, a caravan of horses through Asia, the boat trip from the Asian continent to Japan, and guided, blindfolded, on horseback to the Japanese village where he can buy the eggs from a local baron, Hara Jubei.
During his stay in the village he becomes obsessed with the unnamed concubine of Jubei. On a second journey he has sex with another girl handed to him by Jubei's concubine. At home Hervé's love remains secret, and he seems happy with his wife, Hélène.
The third time he is sent to China, since Japan is no longer safe, and good eggs are now available in China. However, Hervé insists in going to Japan anyway. However, when he arrives in Japan war has broken out, and the village is abandoned; Jubei and the woman are not there. A young servant of Jubei (Kanata Hongō), who Hervé has met before, shows Hervé the way to Jubei. The latter becomes hostile and tells Hervé to go home; he murders the boy by hanging. Without meeting the woman Hervé buys eggs in China, and returns home. After arrival, the eggs have hatched and therefore are useless.
Hervé at last receives a letter from the mysterious concubine, written in Japanese. He takes the letter to a French-Japanese brothel owner, Mme Blanche (known for giving the small blue flowers that she wears to her clients), who translates the letter into French.
Hélène dies and Hervé finds a tribute of small, blue flowers on her grave. He realizes that the letter was not from the Japanese concubine, but from his wife all along. Hélène had Mme Blanche translate the letter for her, knowing that her husband was in love with a Japanese woman, and wanting him to be happy. Mme Blanche tells Hervé that, more than anything, his wife loved him, and Hervé is left wondering if, whilst she lived, he ever truly appreciated her.
Hervé, who is involuntarily childless, tells everything to his young protegé and gardener Ludovic (Mark Rendall), who has known him since his birth.
[edit] Cast
- Michael Pitt as Hervé Joncour
- Keira Knightley as Hélène Joncour
- Alfred Molina as Baldabiou
- Miki Nakatani as Madame Blanche
- Kōji Yakusho as Hara Jubei
- Sei Ashina as The Mistress
- Callum Keith Rennie as Schuyler
- Mark Rendall as Ludovic Berbek
- Naoko Watanabe as Japanese girl
[edit] External links
- Silk at the Internet Movie Database
- Silk at Rotten Tomatoes
- KeiraWeb Project development and news
