Review of The Pillow Book (1995) by Arin D — 03 Aug 2008

This should really be called 'Penis Book', though with Ewan McGregor starring, what else could you expect. Greenaway falters a bit in the beginning, with his editor-esque way of playing with inset picture-in-picture screens (to show a historic narrative or cutaways that aren't cut away).

That gimmick only aided in breaking up what could have been exquisite images for savoring when this is released in hi-res. Oh well. The film picks up its poetic sensibilities near the end, when the 'pillow books' begin arriving.

There are many plot loopholes (like the publisher who was in Japan, then seemed to move his establishment to Hong Kong, and back to Kyoto, all without explanation). Ours not to ask, ours but to ooh and ah.

Certainly there is beautiful calligraphy to be admired here (in two languages), both on skin and paper. A lasting tribute to the Japanese kanji (Chinese) calligraphic style ..there will be no future instances of body-writing without reference to this film.