The Pillow Book
Seen it?1995 | 126 min | Drama, Romance
Weeknight Watchearly ratingWhy it’s a Weeknight Watch
With a lukewarm 6.3 out of 10 from audiences and soft box office, it's a mixed bag. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for romantics. If you loved Notes on a Scandal or Dangerous Liaisons, start here.
- The mood
- Warm and romantic.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 2 hr 6 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated NC-17: expect sex.
Nagito has a fetish for calligraphy on the human body and meets her ideal soulmate Jerome, an English translator sent to Japan. However, once Nagiko's father's gay publisher rejoins the scene, the story is overtaken by treachery and bloodlust.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsSolid
67% on Rotten Tomatoes, 64 on Metacritic
- AudiencesBelow par
6.3 out of 10
- AwardsWeak
1 win and 0 nominations from smaller awards and festivals
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$2 million worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactBelow par
About 40K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Peter Greenaway
- Vivian WuNagiko
- Yoshi OidaThe Publisher
- Ken OgataThe Father
- Hideko YoshidaThe Aunt / The Maid
- Ewan McGregorJerome
- Yutaka HondaHoki
- Judy OnggThe Mother
- Ken MitsuishiThe Husband
- Barbara LottJerome's Mother
- Lynne LangdonJerome's sister