- Format: PAL
- Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: 18
- Studio: Park Circus
- DVD Release Date: 9 May 2011
- Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B004PG9G5U
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 41,758 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Product Description
The Pillow Book is a sensual tale of passion, obsession and revenge. Directed by Peter Greenaway and starring Ewan McGregor and Vivian Wu, this is an irresistible arthouse drama about a young woman in search of a lover, who can match her desire for pleasure with her admiration for poetry and calligraphy. After finalising her own erotic diary ('Pillow Book'), which is firmly rejected from the publisher, Nagiko encounters a man who challenges her to write on his naked body. He will then bring her stories back to the publisher. But their plan works all too well...
This DVD edition features a restored version of the film along with the Theatrical Trailer and a Stills Gallery.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
Watching this Blu-Ray i the first time I have seen this film. In a sense, it's 'typical' Greenaway. Each shot is beautifully composed (less formally than some other films) but it also draws from his 1990s video works, such as Peter Greenaway's A TV Dante: The Inferno Cantos I-VIII [DVD] in the way it has frame-within-a-frame effects. Despite its unconventional appearance, the plot is linear and pretty simple to follow.
The film itself deals with obsession, calligraphy, nakedness, revenge and poetry. It is part in Japanese (with subtitles) and part English. Most of the enjoyment for me came in the dazzlingly creative way the story was told rather than the story itself, and perhaps that is the 'message' here.
The only extras on the disc are the theatrical trailer (in poor quality) and a photo gallery.
Previous DVDs have sparked controversy over their aspect ratios. While IMDB lists this film as 1.75:1, it is presented here in 1.33:1 (4:3). This is an unusual format for the cinema these days, but nothing appeared to be cropped. Images in the film itself vary from widescreen to full frame, and are often overlaid meaning that transferring in anything other than 1.33:1 would not be feasible. (Darwin is also in variable aspect ratio, as it is panned and scanned.) I suspect this film was shot on film (Super 35) then edited on video, which at that time would have been in 1.33:1. Having said that, the trailer is in 1.75:1.
Picture quality is good but not amazing, again probably a symptom of the mid-90s video technology used in production.
Overall, this is a feast for the eyes and a must for anyone with an interest in Greenaway. If the aspect ratio is wrong, it is at least not a significant hindrance to enjoyment.
The film itself deals with obsession, calligraphy, nakedness, revenge and poetry. It is part in Japanese (with subtitles) and part English. Most of the enjoyment for me came in the dazzlingly creative way the story was told rather than the story itself, and perhaps that is the 'message' here.
The only extras on the disc are the theatrical trailer (in poor quality) and a photo gallery.
Previous DVDs have sparked controversy over their aspect ratios. While IMDB lists this film as 1.75:1, it is presented here in 1.33:1 (4:3). This is an unusual format for the cinema these days, but nothing appeared to be cropped. Images in the film itself vary from widescreen to full frame, and are often overlaid meaning that transferring in anything other than 1.33:1 would not be feasible. (Darwin is also in variable aspect ratio, as it is panned and scanned.) I suspect this film was shot on film (Super 35) then edited on video, which at that time would have been in 1.33:1. Having said that, the trailer is in 1.75:1.
Picture quality is good but not amazing, again probably a symptom of the mid-90s video technology used in production.
Overall, this is a feast for the eyes and a must for anyone with an interest in Greenaway. If the aspect ratio is wrong, it is at least not a significant hindrance to enjoyment.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
This film has cried out for release on BD, and it's finally here. Great video quality, though I'm not crazy about the pillarboxed picture (I understand why it was used, but still, it just seems... wrong.)
Highly recommended disc for any PG fan.
Highly recommended disc for any PG fan.
0 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is not Japan.
When a Japanese looks, very strange.
But Vivian Wu'was beautiful'and'Ewan McGregor'was'cute.
I was worth having ordered it from Japan expressly.
When a Japanese looks, very strange.
But Vivian Wu'was beautiful'and'Ewan McGregor'was'cute.
I was worth having ordered it from Japan expressly.
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