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Michael Pitt, Keira Knightley, Koji Yakusho, Alfred Molina, Miki Nakatani ... see more see more... , Mark Rendall , Sei Ashina , Kenneth Welsh , Jun Kunimura , Callum Keith Rennie , Carlo Cecchi , Toni Bertorelli

Francois Girard's adaptation of Alessandro Baricco's novel Silk stars Michael Pitt as a young Frenchman who travels to Japan at the request of a wealthy silkworm magnate who asks him to smuggle back s... read more read more...ome new worms. The mission succeeds, and this allows the man to live in great comfort with his wife (Keira Knightley). After a few years, they are unable to conceive a child, a situation that leads to the man taking on a lover during his subsequent visits to Japan. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

Flixster Users

32% liked it

9,871 ratings

Critics

7% liked it

56 critics

R, 1 hr. 48 min.

Directed by: François Girard

Release Date: September 14, 2007

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DVD Release Date: February 26, 2008

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Flixster Reviews (1,376)

  • 76Majikat
    February 19, 2011
    76Majikat
    I've no idea what compelled me to watch this film, either before watching or during and whilst I wouldn't be able to explain the slow plotted story to anyone else, I have to admit that there is something about Michael Pitt that is addictive to watch and perhaps that is what made ... read moreme stay with this film and strangely I found it quite enjoyable.
  • deano
    February 20, 2010
    deano
    Wonderful period drama-romance story (there goes Kiera Knightley's other period movies since Atonement and Pride & Prejudice).
    The journeys are probably the best bits in the movie, with lush landscapes filling the screen in all serenity of the turmoils that are yet... read more to come. I thought director Francois Girard tried to ape Terence Mallick's direction, with lush natural beauty punctuated with voice over narration of the character's inner-most thoughts. We learn a lot of what's going on in Herve's (played by Michael Pitt) mind, as he tells us the story of his being, and the conflict he faces when he gets tempted to committing adultery, never forgetting about his tryst overseas when back home he has a lovely wife (played by Knightley) to go home to.
  • LitelBluHli
    July 13, 2009
    LitelBluHli
    Somewhat of a simple love story, but I still thought the acting and and story itself was well done. Michael Pitt's character is married to Keira Knightley who he loves dearly, but while on a long trip to Japan he's drawn to a concubine. Although the time they spent together were ... read morelimited, there was something about their quiet relationship that somehow touched me. I also felt the same way about his relationship with his wife...the scenery was beautiful throughout.
  • mwilliams078
    December 6, 2008
    mwilliams078
    Silk, is a very good drama starring Keira Knightley. This story takes place in the 19th century France. A young couple falls in love and the young man (Michael Pitt) is to smuggle silk worms back for his new prosperous factory where he is woven into love and other assorted drama.
  • shauna1354
    August 28, 2008
    shauna1354
    Silk suffers from the dull factor and there is nothing I hate more than having to sit through a very dull film.
    The beautiful scenery and stunning cinematography is one of very few things I liked about this film. Michael Pitt is a promising actor, I've liked some of his previous... read more work but in this he is incredibly monotonous and emotionless. Keira Knightley could have made more of an impression had the role demanded more of her, and Alfred Molina, a very good actor is a much needed addition to the cast. The scenes journeying between France and Japan, are silent, dreary and too long.
    If you actually cared about the characters then maybe this would have been moving, but in my opinion it was a poor attempt at an epic love story. Avoid and watch Atonement instead.
  • romy861
    August 10, 2008
    romy861
    I didn't actually know if I liked this one all that much until it got to the end, but it did turn out to be worth watching and very moving. It is not a very fast moving movie, and quite hard to watch at times. Also, more insight into the main characters would have been good as it... read more is a bit hard at times to figure out what is motivating them. I'm not sure on the casting either, although I think Michael Pitt is a great actor, he was a bit understated at times, particularly in the earlier half of this movie, although I could totally believe the character by the end of, so perhaps that was intentional. Keira Knightly just plain looked out of place, she's not a horrible actress, but the whole character just fell flat and didn't have much to do. Again, the ending turned it all around and gave her a bit more substance. Without giving the story away, the message to it is to appreciate what you have.
  • Redlats
    July 29, 2008
    Redlats
    Micheal Pitt is Hervé, a 19th century silkworm trader. Keira Knightley is Hélène, his wife. Hervé travels across the world to find his silkworms, and becomes obsessed with a Japanese girl. It is hard to imagine the character Hervé as a successful businessman, but easier to ima... read moregine him as someone obsessed with a Japanese concubine he has only pined over from afar.

    The movie has some great music and scenery and the ending hits you out of nowhere, but the movie does drag somewhat.
  • puffchunk
    July 21, 2008
    puffchunk
    I got through about 15 minutes of this abortion before I killed myself.
  • gator681
    October 22, 2008
    gator681
    [font=Century Gothic]In "Silk," Baldabiou's(Alfred Molina) scheme of starting a silk mill in France in 1862 is more successful than his wildest dreams, so three more mills are built and the town prospers. But a disease strikes and the silkworm eggs die. So, he commissions Herve... read more Joncour(Michael Pitt), a young officer to travel to Egypt to buy new eggs, in the process allowing him to leave the army, get out from under the thumb of his father(Kenneth Welsh) and marry his sweetheart Helene(Keira Knightley). But even the eggs in Egypt are no good and Herve is now engaged to go on an even longer and more perilous journey to Japan...[/font]
    [font=Century Gothic][/font]
    [font=Century Gothic]"Silk" is a dull and lifeless movie that somehow takes all the emotion out of a potentially fascinating adventure story which is strange considering how many lives and livelihoods are on the line. Instead of an interesting bit of history that could have explored thoughts on culture clashes and imperialism, only a silly romance is on display.(At this point for me, it feels odd looking at Japan from a purely European viewpoint.) And Michael Pitt being cast in the lead does not help. What would have been interesting is if the movie did a decent job of capturing time passing in Herve's absence, especially considering the Franco-Prussian War and its resultant upheaval was in 1870-1871.[/font]
    [font=Century Gothic][/font]
    [font=Century Gothic]But at least the movie is pretty to look at.[/font]
  • Yinali
    January 27, 2009
    Yinali
    Didn't understand t much. But it was okay. I still think Kiera Knightley can do better movies.

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Critic Reviews

Susan Walker
September 28, 2007
Susan Walker, Toronto Star

François Girard's Silk is not merely painterly. It might as well be a painting, for all that it eschews storytelling, forcing the viewer to scan the lush imagery in search of clues to what, if anythin... Full Review

Stephen Cole
September 28, 2007
Stephen Cole, Globe and Mail

Though elegantly staged, Silk is badly written and indifferently cast. Full Review

Julia Wallace
September 18, 2007
Julia Wallace, Village Voice

Silk isn't just bad. It's utterly mad. Full Review

James Berardinelli
September 15, 2007
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

It's a perfect example of how awful direction and performances can ruin an adequate screenplay. Full Review

Jack Mathews
September 14, 2007
Jack Mathews, New York Daily News

Limp satire. Full Review

Stephen Holden
September 14, 2007
Stephen Holden, New York Times

[Director] Girard confuses pretty scenery doused in ponderous music with epic visual poetry. Impenetrable musings intended to evoke ineffable romantic longing leave you scratching your head as you wai... Full Review

Joshua Kosman
September 14, 2007
Joshua Kosman, San Francisco Chronicle

The main problem is the casting, with Michael Pitt and Keira Knightley evidently competing to see who can be more attractive and vacuous. Full Review

Kyle Smith
September 14, 2007
Kyle Smith, New York Post

As sensuous as its title, Silk is an exquisitely felt love story that unfolds as delicately as a blooming flower. And as slowly. Full Review

Kevin Crust
September 14, 2007
Kevin Crust, Los Angeles Times

[Alfred] Molina, as Baldabiou, is the only cast member who transcends the material -- as he always does -- and his scenes are considerably more invigorated than the rest of the film. Full Review

Bruce Westbrook
September 14, 2007
Bruce Westbrook, Houston Chronicle

Although the period-piece film has all the trappings, from beautiful people to an obligatory sense of tragedy, it never follows through. In fact, its love story needs a shove -- it just lies there. Full Review

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Silk Trivia

  • Who says this line,"You of all people should know i would never wear black silk underwear?"  Answer »
  • What blockbuster actress starred in Pride and Prejudice, Silk and Pirates 1 and 2   Answer »
  • What Movie Had Will Ferrell and Chris Kattan play the Butabi brothers and work at their dads silk garden shop?  Answer »
  • where does this van damm phrase come from... "why dont you take your fancy clothes, your black silk Anderwear.... and go back to disnAyland"  Answer »
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