Vivian Wu,
Ewan McGregor,
Yoshi Oida,
Ken Ogata,
Hideko Yoshida
... see more 
Peter Greenaway directed this elliptical and visually intricate tale of the far side of erotic and intellectual attraction. As a girl, Nagiko would receive a special gift each year from her father: a ... read more
DVD Release Date: December 15, 1998
Stats: 753 reviews
Great film, Peter Greenaway direction is beautiful! This is the first film were Hollywood took note of the young Ewan McGregor too but it's Vivian Wu who steals the show.
*re-review*
I just watched this again after 15 years and have completely changed my mind. I guess I was ... read more
A beautiful woman is obsessed with inking characters on human flesh, making herself and her lovers into living books. Gorgeous and sensual, with layered images and pictures framed inside of other pictures. Greenaway's painterly picture is a loving tribute both to calligraphy and... read more
Everytime i try to get into this film i encounter a solid wall that won't let me pass. Vivian Wu should be in more movies, naked if possible.
Greenaway is definitely an acquired taste; he IS painfully affected and pretentious, but his sumptuous visuals can more than make up for it, and this is probably the most beautiful example of his work.
This movie was pretty weird and slow at times, but it was beautiful and was very artistically shot. There was always a lot going on visually (pictures within pictures, subtitles, text, lots and lots of text). The music reminded me of a Clockwork Orange. And as an added bonus t... read more
Greenaway uses groundbreaking effects to showcase his influence in mathematics,fine arts,puzzles,juxtapositions and erotic flavor,thus making a visually titillating film,introspective and with boiling lavishness.
Easily my favorite Ewan McGregor movie. It may be rated NC-17, but it is NOT porn. It is subtle in it's symbolism, contains spectacular acting and a gripping story.
It's gorgeous to look at, it's erotic, it's disturbing, it's pretentious as hell, it's strangely devoid of emotional connection, and it treats its characters not so much as actual human beings than as reflections of elaborate, often cynical philosophical metaphor... it's a Peter ... read more
The chapters of this book are written on Ewan McGregor's body (and others). Stunning photography. Subtitles are sometimes difficult to read.
Never less than mesmerizing, even when you're not exactly sure what exactly Greenaway is trying to say. Full Review
Both exhilarating and exhausting, The Pillow Book is undeniably bold, sometimes beautiful, filmmaking. Full Review
Manages to carry on Peter Greenaway's tradition of cherishing both the erotic and the exotic. Full Review
Penises come in all shapes and sizes, and such is the preponderance of penises on parade in The Pillow Book that sitting through it feels like watching Multiplicity with Harvey Keitel in the lead. Full Review
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