Silk (2007/I)

Director:

François Girard

Writers:

Alessandro Baricco (novel)
François Girard (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

21 September 2007 (Canada)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Love knows no borders

Plot:

The story of a married silkworm merchant-turned-smuggler in 19th century France traveling to Japan for his town's supply of silkworms after a disease wipes out their African supply. During his stay in Japan, he becomes obsessed with the concubine of a local baron.

Plot Keywords:

Silkworm | Japan | Travel | Concubine | France

Awards:

6 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Sei Ashina	...	The Girl
Michael Pitt	...	Hervé Joncour
Tony Vogel	...	Café Verdun Man #1
Toni Bertorelli	...	Verdun
Keira Knightley	...	Hélène Joncour
Kenneth Welsh	...	Mayor Joncour
Martha Burns	...	Mme. Joncour
Alfred Molina	...	Baldabiou
Michael Golding	...	Clerk
Carlo Cecchi	...	Priest
Chiara Stampone	...	Béatrice Berbek
Marc Fiorini	...	M. Chabert
Leslie Csuth	...	M. Loiseau
Toru Tezuka	...	Japanese Guide
Hiroya Morita	...	Japanese Elder #1
Akinori Ando	...	Ronin
Jun Kunimura	...	Umon
Kanata Hongô	...	Japanese Boy (as Kanata Hongo)
Kôji Yakusho	...	Hara Jubei
Dimitri Carella	...	2-Year-Old Ludovic
Dominick Carella	...	2-Year-Old Ludovic
Callum Keith Rennie	...	Schuyler
Naoko Watanabe	...	Japanese Girl
Honjo Hidetaro	...	Shamisen Player
Nana Nagao	...	Geisha #1
Saki Aoi	...	Geisha #2
Hiroshi Ohguchi	...	Japanese Elder #2 (as Hiroshi Oguchi)
Michio Akahane	...	Japanese Elder #3
Yuya Takagawa	...	Japanese Trader #1
Tarô Suwa	...	Japanese Trader #2
Katy Louise Saunders	...	Brothel Hostess (as Katy Saunders)
Miki Nakatani	...	Madame Blanche
Max Malatesta	...	Customs Officer
Joel Adams	...	4-Year-Old Ludovic
Luca De Bei	...	Café Verdun Man #2
Ed Licht	...	Diplomat (as Edward Licht)
Domenico Procacci	...	Ambassador
Nicola Tovaglione	...	10-Year-Old Ludovic
Francesco Carnelutti	...	Doctor
Mark Rendall	...	Ludovic Berbek
Maddalena Maggi	...	Brothel Hostess #2
Makoto Inamiya	...	Japanese Trader / Elder
Makoto Matsubara	...	Japanese Trader / Elder
Yuki Kawanishi	...	Japanese Trader / Elder
Hidenori Shimizu	...	Japanese Trader / Elder
Hiroki Takano	...	Japanese Trader / Elder

Directed by
François Girard

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Alessandro Baricco		novel
François Girard		screenplay
Michael Golding		screenplay

Produced by
Jonathan Debin	....	executive producer
Niv Fichman	....	producer
Cam Galano	....	executive producer (as Camela Galano)
Akira Ishii	....	executive producer
Masaru Koibuchi	....	line producer: Japan
Gianluca Leurini	....	line producer: Italy
Nadine Luque	....	producer
Sheena Macdonald	....	associate producer: Rhombus Media
Jacques Méthé	....	producer: Quebec (as Jacques Methé)
Sahar Nasser	....	associate producer: second unit, Egypt
Domenico Procacci	....	producer
Rami Rabei	....	line producer: second unit, Egypt
Sonoko Sakai	....	producer
Yasushi Shiina	....	executive producer
Barbara Willis Sweete	....	associate producer: Rhombus Media
Patrice Theroux	....	executive producer
Larry Weinstein	....	associate producer: Rhombus Media
Tom Yoda	....	executive producer
Alessandro Baricco	....	executive producer (uncredited)
François Girard	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Ryûichi Sakamoto

Cinematography by
Alain Dostie		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Pia Di Ciaula

Casting by
Susie Figgis

Production Design by
François Séguin

Costume Design by
Kazuko Kurosawa
Carlo Poggioli

Makeup Department
Miho Anraku	....	hair stylist: Japan
Carlo Barucci	....	key hair stylist: Italy
Francesca De Simone	....	hair stylist: Italy
Raffaella Iorio	....	makeup artist: Italy
Akiko Kawata	....	hair stylist: second unit, Japan
Veronika Kostrhounova	....	makeup artist: Italy (as Veronica Kustrhounova)
Rosa Luciani	....	hair stylist: Italy
Mario Michisanti	....	key makeup artist: Italy
Miyoko Sakurai	....	makeup artist: Japan
Mitsue Sato	....	makeup artist: Ms. Nakatani, Japan
Tsutomu Sugawara	....	hair stylist: Japan
Mariko Tanaka	....	makeup artist: Japan
Hayato Toyama	....	hair stylist: Japan
Azusa Yamaguchi	....	assistant makeup artist: Japan

Production Management
Caterina Caratilli	....	unit manager: Italy
Takayuki Denno	....	production manager: second unit, Japan
Hamed El Bagoury	....	production manager: second unit, Egypt
Shuji Hosoya	....	unit manager: Japan
George Jardon	....	post-production supervisor
Kyoko Kageyama	....	production supervisor: Japan
Roberto Leone	....	production manager: Italy
Valeria Licurgo	....	production supervisor: Fandango
Fabrizio Prada	....	unit manager: Italy
Tsutomu Sakurai	....	production manager: Japan
Robert Wilson-Smith	....	production manager: second unit (as Robert Wilson Smith)
Gianluca Leurini	....	unit production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ad Paola Carocci	....	trainee assistant director: Italy
Tetsuo Funabashi	....	second assistant director: Japan
Toshitaka Furuike	....	second second assistant director: Japan
Mario Janelle	....	second unit director
Takayuki Kawatsu	....	second second assistant director: Japan
Ed Licht	....	first assistant director (as Edward Licht)
Shinya Masuda	....	second assistant director: Japan
Fumio Nomoto	....	first assistant director: second unit, Japan
Sara Rosato	....	second second assistant director: Italy
Luigi Spoletini	....	first assistant director: Italy
Mon Takada	....	second assistant director: second unit, Japan
Alessandro Trapani	....	second assistant director: Italy
Andreas Kassab	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Nobuhiro Akitaya	....	set decorator: Japan
Carlo Aloisio	....	set dresser: Italy
Giorgio Barullo	....	scenic painter: Italy
Nathaie Bencharova	....	art department coordinator: second unit, Russia
Claudio Bernardi	....	art department laborer: Italy
Francesca Birri	....	assistant: Ms. Braemer
Cecile Braemer	....	art department coordinator (as Cécile Braemer)
Giovanna Capoguzzi	....	greensman: Italy
Adriano Cattaneo	....	assistant set dresser: Italy
Luciano Ceccotti	....	green master: Italy
Giovanni Chiacchio	....	art department laborer: Italy
Valentin Chikov	....	props: second unit, Russia
Alessandro Coppolecchia	....	art department laborer: Italy
Sabrina Coppolecchia	....	set decorator: Italy
Massimiliano Corte	....	stand-by props: second unit, Italy
Lorenzo D'Ambrosio	....	art department laborer: Italy
Fabio Drusin	....	art department laborer: Italy
Roberto Fè	....	art department laborer: Italy (as Roberto Fe)
Stefania Ferro	....	greensman: Italy
Marco Ficorella	....	swing gang: Italy
Fioravanti	....	greensman: Italy
Emita Frigato	....	production designer: Italy
Ermanno Gentilezza	....	swing gang: Italy
Patrick Gentilezza	....	property master assistant: Italy
Marina Giuseppini	....	art department buyer: Italy
Denis Hamel	....	property master
Mami Ishida	....	assistant set decorator: Japan
Michele Izzo	....	art department laborer: Italy
Chieko Kashiyama	....	assistant art director: Japan
Maki Kobayashi	....	set dresser: Japan
Brian Kobo	....	prop coordinator: Japan
Noriyuki Kondo	....	art director: Japan (as Shigeyuki Kondo)
Maria Garzia Leone	....	assistant art director: Italy
Gianni Luciani	....	art department facilitator: Italy
Luciano Magagnini	....	property master: Italy
Angelo Mariani	....	swing gang: Italy
Pietro Masotti	....	drapesman: Italy
Kazuhiko Matsugu	....	art coordinator: Japan
Kazuta Matsunaga	....	set dresser: Japan
Masumi Miura	....	assistant set designer: Japan
Aki Murai	....	prop assistant: Japan
Gino Nastasi	....	swing gang: Italy
Giovanni Nucera	....	prop assistant: Italy
Fumio Ogawa	....	production designer: Japan
Itsuzan Osawa	....	calligrapher: Japan
Paola Peraro	....	assistant art director: Italy
Domenico Pierotti	....	art department laborer: Italy
Loredana Raffi	....	set dresser: Italy
Diego Ricci	....	assistant art director: Italy
Roberto Ricci	....	set constructor: Italy
Yuzuru Sakai	....	property master: Japan
Monica Sallustio	....	draftsman: Italy
Cinzia Sarto	....	draftsman: Italy
Yukihisa Satosu	....	assistant art director: Japan
Luigi Sergianni	....	construction manager: Italy
Yukiharu Seshimo	....	set designer: Japan
Santo Spalla	....	scenic painter: Italy
Tomoyuki Takagi	....	set dresser: Japan
Kenji Takao	....	set dresser: Japan
Kazuharu Tsuboi	....	construction captain: Japan
Nobuaki Watanabe	....	set dresser: Japan
Lucia Zeccara	....	set dresser: Italy
Danilo Zera	....	property master assistant: Italy

Sound Department
Claude Beaugrand	....	sound
Daniel Bisson	....	adr recording engineer
Daniel Bisson	....	foley recording engineer
Gregory Bolduc	....	re-recording assistant engineer
David Boulton	....	adr recording engineer
Olivier Calvert	....	sound
Jérôme Décarie	....	foley artist
Jean-Charles Desjardins	....	adr recording engineer
Natalie Fleurant	....	supervising adr editor
Nicolas Gagnon	....	assistant to foley artist
Bernard Gariépy Strobl	....	sound
Hideaki Ishii	....	adr recording engineer (as Hideki Ishii)
Claude La Haye	....	sound
Hans Laitres	....	re-recording assistant engineer
Francis Péloquin	....	boom operator (as Francis Peloquin)
Kim Picard	....	sound studio coordinator (as Kimberley Picard)
Francine Poirier	....	dialogue editor
Vincent Riendeau	....	re-recording assistant engineer
Alessandro Savino	....	sound assistant: Italy
Steve F.B. Smith	....	sound consultant: Dolby
Hans Peter Strobl	....	sound
Rin Takada	....	sound assistant: Japan
Johannie Gervais	....	assistant sound editor (uncredited)
Peter Gleaves	....	adr mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Tiberio Angeloni	....	special effects assistant: Italy
Jean-François Aubin	....	special effects: snow, Japan (as Jean Francois Aubin)
Franco Galiano	....	special effects supervisor: M.A.G., Italy (as Franco Fabio Galiano)
Paolo Galiano	....	special effects assistant: Italy
Shûichi Kishiura	....	special effects supervisor: Japan (as Syuichi Kishiura)
Tsuneo Koumi	....	special effects: snow, Japan
Chuji Shimajiri	....	special effects: Japan
Narumi Tsuzaki	....	special effects: snow, Japan
Giancarlo Mancini	....	special effects (uncredited)
Guillaume Murray	....	special effects supervisor (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Patrick Bergeron	....	lead digital compositing artist: Studio Ex-Centris
Etienne Daigle	....	compositing artist: Studio Ex-Centris
Martin Desrochers	....	3D artist: Studio Ex-Centris
Davis Goodman	....	system administrator: Studio Ex-Centris
Mathieu Jolicoeur	....	compositing artist: Studio Ex-Centris
Stéphane Landry	....	digital visual effects supervisor
Guillaume Marin-Lafond	....	rotoscope artist: Studio Ex-Centris
Rene Morel	....	digital matte painter: Studio Ex-Centris (as René Morel)
Renaud Paradis	....	system administrator: Studio Ex-Centris
Mathieu Raynault	....	digital matte painter: Studio Ex-Centris
Christian Rittener	....	3D artist: Studio Ex-Centris
Alain Roy	....	digital visual effects producer: Studio Ex-Centris
Muriel Tiberghien	....	3D artist: Studio Ex-Centris
Nathalie Tremblay	....	compositing artist: Studio Ex-Centris
Elise Voyer	....	digital visual effects project manager: Studio Ex-Centris

Stunts
Koji Fukae	....	stunts: Japan
Yoshiaki Ieki	....	stunts: Japan
Yusaku Kawase	....	stunts: Japan
Hiroshi Kuze	....	stunt coordinator: Japan
Mariano Manna	....	stunt rider: Ronin, second unit, Italy
Kazuhiro Okayama	....	stunts: Japan
Angelo Ragusa	....	stunt coordinator: Italy
Gabriele Ragusa	....	stunt double: Hervé. second unit, Italy
Andrea Rezza	....	stunt rider: Ronin, second unit, Italy
Mamoru Tanimoto	....	stunts: Japan
Kimio Yamada	....	assistant stunt coordinator: Japan

Camera and Electrical Department
Simone Barbona	....	grip
Piero Bosi	....	grip: Italy
Alessandro Cardelli	....	rigging electrician: Italy
Daniel Chrétien	....	gaffer
Fabio Ciotto	....	clapper/loader: Italy
Fabrizio Coppo	....	electrician: Italy
Tonino D'Arienzo	....	electrician: Italy
Jean-Maurice de Ernsted	....	key grip
Claudio Del Gobbo	....	key grip: Italy
Massimiliano Dessena	....	grip: Italy
Stefano Di Pasquali	....	grip: Italy
Maurizio di Stefano	....	rigging gaffer: Italy
Paolo Di Stefano	....	rigging electrician: Italy
Amelie Duceppe	....	second assistant camera
Sylvaine Dufaux	....	camera operator
Yuka Eto	....	film loader: "a" camera, Japan
Sergio Faina	....	rigging key grip: Italy
Doriano Forti	....	rigging grip: Italy
Jacques Yves Gucia	....	still photographer
Takumi Hirai	....	electrician: Japan
Shigeru Hirayama	....	key grip: Japan
Kenji Ichikawa	....	grip assistant: Japan
Masao Imai	....	grip assistant: Japan
Ryo Ishida	....	second assistant camera: second unit, Japan
Yasuhiro Ishiguro	....	electrician: Japan
Tsuyoshi Kage	....	electrician: Japan
Michiaki Kamochi	....	electrician: Japan
Shingo Kasa	....	grip assistant: Japan
Takuro Kase	....	electrician: Japan
Taro Kawauchi	....	electrician: Japan
Martin Lebel	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Antonio Leurini	....	electrician: Italy
Emanuele Leurini	....	second assistant camera: second unit, Italy
Emiliano Leurini	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera, Italy
Paolo Leurini	....	gaffer: Italy
Yasushi Masuda	....	electrician: Japan
Manabu Matsumiya	....	additional first assistant camera: Japan
Norito Matsumoto	....	electrician: Japan
Tommaso Mele	....	key grip: Italy
Taku Mitamura	....	electrician: Japan
Yasushi Miyata	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera, Japan
Yasushi Miyata	....	first assistant camera: second unit, Japan
Yasushi Miyata	....	second assistant camera: second unit, Russia
Nathalie Moliavko-Visotzky	....	director of photography: second unit
Norihero Mori	....	electrician: Japan
Masanari Okada	....	grip assistant: Japan
Giorgio Pezzotti	....	grip: Italy
Dany Racine	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Cristiano Rossi	....	video assist operator: Italy
Daisuke Saito	....	grip assistant: Japan
Hiroyuki Takahashi	....	video assist operator: Japan
Kouichi Tatebe	....	electrician: Japan (as Koichi Tatebe)
Jitsu Toyoda	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera, Japan
Jitsu Toyoda	....	second second assistant camera: second unit, Japan
Diego Vallini	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera, Italy
Yuji Wada	....	gaffer: Japan
Akira Watanabe	....	electrician: Japan
Massimiliano Zenga	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera, Italy
Daniele Caiuli	....	electrician (uncredited)
Emiliano Leurini	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
John Buchan	....	casting: Canada
Jason Knight	....	casting associate
Jason Knight	....	additional casting: Canada
Béatrice Kruger	....	casting: Italy (as Beatrice Kruger)
Mai Sugiyama	....	casting assistant: Japan
Toshiie Tomida	....	casting: Japan (as Toshiie Tomita)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Luigi Di Cristo	....	wardrobe master: extras, Italy
Giuliana Esposito	....	seamstress: Italy
Serena Fiumi	....	costume supervisor: Italy
Gastone Grassi	....	cutter: Italy
Giampiero Grassi	....	cutter: men, Italy (as Giampietro Grassi)
Rebecca Higginson	....	costumer: Ms. Knightley, Italy
Monica Iacuzzo	....	costume workshop coordinator: Italy
Mayu Ishihara	....	costumer: Japan
Misako Kajimoto	....	costumer: Japan
Giovanni Lipari	....	key costumer
Elsa Malandra	....	cutter: Italy
Adriana Mattiozzi	....	cutter: women, Italy
Elena Mayevskaya	....	costumer: second unit, Russia
Luciano Parisi	....	costume department runner: Italy
Enzo Serafino Pellegrino	....	dyer: Italy
Enzo Serafino Pellegrino	....	stand-by costumer: second unit, Italy
Salvatore Salzano	....	assistant costume designer: Italy
Masaru Sekiguchi	....	costumer: Japan
Masaru Sekiguchi	....	wardrobe: second unit, Japan

Editorial Department
Linda Bourgeois	....	negative cutter: Citelab/Global Vision
Marie-Hélène Bourget	....	digital intermediate technician: Citelab/Global Vision
Jim Campabanal	....	negative cutter: Citelab/Global Vision (as Jim Campabadal)
Pascale Dubé	....	post-production coordinator
Geneviève Duffault	....	digital intermediate post supervisor: Citelab/Global Vision
Mathieu Duncan	....	digital dailies: Citelab/Global Vision
Nicolas Gauthier	....	digital opticals and titles: Citelab/Global Vision
Martin Girard	....	digital intermediate technician: Citelab/Global Vision
Pierre Guérin	....	digital internediate engineering supervisor: Citelab/Global Vision
Marc Lussier	....	color timer: Citelab/Global Vision
Guillaume Marin-Lafond	....	post-production assistant: Studio Ex-centris
Supriya Naidu-James	....	first assistant editor
Martine Rousseau	....	digital intermediate technician: Citelab/Global Vision
Julien Tremblay	....	digital intermediate technician

Music Department
Fernando Aponte	....	music recording engineer
Fernando Aponte	....	scoring mixer
Joshua Bell	....	musician: violin
Romulo Benavides	....	musician: string quartet, Sweet Plantain
Steven Danenberg	....	music preparation (as Steve Danenberg)
Steven Danenberg	....	music supervisor (as Steve Danenberg)
Honjoh Fukuhide	....	musician: singer
David Gotay	....	musician: string quartet, Sweet Plantain
Honjo Hidetaro	....	music advisor: Japan
Honjo Hidetaro	....	musician: shamisen (as Honjoh Hidetaro)
Carlos Núñez	....	musician: whistle and iwabue soloist
Alex Pauk	....	conductor
Ryûichi Sakamoto	....	musician: piano
Ryûichi Sakamoto	....	orchestrator
Ryûichi Sakamoto	....	scoring mixer
Eddie Venegas	....	musician: string quartet, Sweet Plantain
Orlando Wells	....	musician: string quartet, Sweet Plantain

Transportation Department
Giovanni Angeletti	....	driver: Italy
Stefano Antonelli	....	driver: Mr. Pitt, Italy
Hiroshi Aoki	....	driver: Japan
Roberto Bevini	....	driver: Italy
Gianluca Cardillo	....	driver: Mr.Girard, Italy
Stefano Ciammetti	....	driver: Italy
Mario De Biase	....	driver: Italy
Claudio De Simone	....	driver: Italy
Valter Di Francesco	....	driver: second unit, Italy
Marco Ganino	....	driver: Mr. Molina, Italy
Nando Ginnanneschi	....	driver: Italy
Pietro Giordani	....	driver: Ms. Knightley, Italy
Fabio Giovannangelo	....	driver: Italy
Michael Golovinov	....	driver: second unit, Russia
Aniello Guarniera	....	driver: Italy (as Aniello Guarnieri)
Akio Hakamada	....	driver: Japan
Tsuyoshi Hashikawa	....	driver: Japan
Katsuyuki Hashimoto	....	driver: Japan
Franco Iannone	....	driver: Italy
Motoki Ichikura	....	driver: second unit, Japan
Katsuaki Inoue	....	driver: Japan
Yuuki Iwai	....	driver: Japan
Kazuo Kamijyo	....	driver: Japan
Joetaro Kitamura	....	driver: Mr. Pitt, Japan
Taksuki Kojima	....	driver: Japan
Masaki Komatsu	....	driver: Japan
Shinichi Komita	....	driver: Japan
Fabrizio Leone	....	driver: Italy
Gianni Luciani	....	driver: Italy
Fabio Mancini	....	transportation coordinator: Italy
Fabrizio Mancini	....	driver: Italy
Angelo Marchesani	....	driver: Italy
Toshihiro Minamisawa	....	driver: Japan
Nobuyasu Mochizuki	....	driver: Japan
Shinzou Mochizuki	....	driver: Japan
Giovanni Moltoni	....	driver: Italy
Ivano Moltoni	....	driver: Italy
Fabrizio Mosca	....	driver: second unit, Italy
Tsukasa Motoya	....	driver: Japan
Jun Murayama	....	driver: Japan
Tomio Nakajima	....	driver: Japan
Jun Nakamura	....	animal transportation: Japan
Toshio Nozawa	....	driver: Japan
Koji Oana	....	driver: Japan
Yutaka Okano	....	driver: Japan
Massimo Orlandi	....	transportation captain: Italy
Eugenio Petouchoff	....	driver: second unit, Italy
Federico Pitotti	....	driver: Italy
Tonino Quaranta	....	driver: Italy
Massimo Rana	....	driver: Italy
Stefano Rosati	....	driver: Italy
Andrea Sassaroli	....	driver: Italy
Koichi Sato	....	driver: Japan
Angelo Scalia	....	driver: catering, Italy
Shinji Sekiya	....	driver: Japan
Angelo Sereni	....	driver: Italy
Masamitu Tabata	....	driver: second unit, Japan
Takahiro Taketomi	....	driver: second unit, Japan
Anatoliy Tyushkevich	....	driver: second unit, Russia
Takeshi Uehara	....	driver: Japan
Kiyoshi Utsuki	....	driver: Japan
Hisahiro Washizawa	....	driver: Japan
Iwao Yamazaki	....	driver: Japan
Masataka Yoshida	....	driver: Japan

Other crew
Mohamed Abdel Wahab	....	production assistant: second unit, Egypt
Hitoshi Abe	....	set production assistant: Japan
Nikolay Agdonov	....	horse master: second unit, Russia
Damian Anderson	....	production coordinator: second unit
Mostaga Azmy	....	runner: second unit, Egypt
Chaimaa Badawy	....	production coordinator: second unit, Egypt
Evan Balmer	....	manager: Mr. Sakamoto
Simona Batistelli	....	production coordinator: Italy
Chris Bell	....	business affairs coordinator: Rhombus Media
Claudio Bellincampi	....	set production assistant: Italy
Nikita Bencharov	....	owner: Khujar Village, second unit, Russia
Shaker Beshir	....	runner: second unit, Egypt
Sandie Bornstein	....	accountant: Rhombus Media
Giuseppe Cancellara	....	blacksmith: Italy
Tatiana Caratelli	....	assistant cashier: Italy
Francesco Carone	....	horse groomer: second unit, Italy
Vittorio Carta	....	labor consultant: Italy
Elena Cavallo	....	location contact: Piemonte, Italy
Valentin Chikov	....	provider: sleigh, second unit, Russia
Simona Chiocca	....	researcher: second unit, Italy
Marco Cimitan	....	stand-in: Italy
Nino Cirulli	....	minors coordinator: Italy
Gabriele Colecchia	....	production assistant: Italy
Blake Crawford	....	double: Hervé, second unit, Japan
Fabrizio De Angelis	....	key chef: Italy
Shinobu Deguchi	....	animal trainer: Japan
Shinobu Deguchi	....	bird trainer: Japan
Manolo DeLeonibus	....	second chef assistant: Italy
Flavio De Simone	....	cashier: Italy
Derek Di Biagio	....	assistant: Keira Knightley
Denis Dulude	....	title designer
Basem El Bagoury	....	location manager: second unit, Egypt
Hinshu Elizosha	....	electronic press kit crew: Japan
Sadami Fan	....	production assistant: bilifgual, Japan
Barbara Ferrara	....	first chef assistant: Italy
Sonia Ferri	....	assistant: Mr. Procacci, Fandango
Christian Fluet	....	production accountant
Bryan Friedman	....	business affairs coordinator: Rhombus Media
Tetsu Fujimura	....	financial advisor: Filopophia Entertainment Alliance
Koji Fujino	....	project advisor: T.Y. Limited
Naomi Fujino	....	production assistant: second unit, Japan
Daisuke Fukugawa	....	location production assistant: second unit, Japan
Katsumi Furuhashi	....	production accountant: Japan
Mayumi Furukawa	....	production intern: Japan
Paul Gagnon	....	client services: Citelab/Global Vision
Joseph Geminale	....	contact: Courmayeur/Tiglieto, second unit, Italy
Marco Giacometti	....	production secretary: Italy
Alexey Golovinov	....	location manager: second unit, Russia
Gianni A. Graziol	....	location manager: Italy (as Gianni Grazioli)
Kodai Hanayama	....	production assistant: Japan
Michiyo Hata	....	manner coach: Japan
Yoshiko Hondo	....	caterer: Japan
Youki Hoshino	....	location manager: Japan
Joe Ikeda	....	business coordinator: Asmik Ace Entertainment
Akiko Inoue	....	business affairs: T.Y. Limited
Noriko Ishida	....	production intern: Japan
Junya Ito	....	stand-in: Japan
Yasuyuki Iwanami	....	business coordinator: Asmik Ace Entertainment
Hiroshi Iwaya	....	location manager: Japan
Winnifred Jong	....	script supervisor
Masayuki Kaibara	....	location and budget advisor: Japan (as Masayuki Kaihara)
Yoshiaki Kamonji	....	production assistant: Japan
Peter Kaser	....	contact: Cortina, second unit, Italy
Ivana Kastratovic	....	production coordinator: Italy
Shinichi Kato	....	set production assistant: Japan
Hideyuki Kawamura	....	assistant horse coordinator: Japan
Takao Kawashima	....	set production assistant: Japan
Noriko Kobayashi	....	translator: Japan
Megumi Kubota	....	publicist: Japanese Media, Japan
Serge Lamothe	....	script consultant
Marco Landolfi	....	cashier: Italy
Yan Lanquette Turgeon	....	assistant: Mr. Girard
Elisa Larcher della Spalliera	....	stand-in: Italy
Enrico Latella	....	location scouting
Cristina Leurini	....	catering manager: Italy
Monica Leurini	....	chief caterer: Italy
Filippo Lovatelli	....	location contact: Campo Imperatore, Italy
Takahiro Maeyama	....	financial advisor: Japan
Nathalie Martishevskaya	....	translator: second unit, Russia
Mariko Maruyama	....	production intern: Japan
Samuel Masi	....	production assistant: assistant director, Italy
Satoko Matsui	....	assistant production accountant: Japan
Hiroyuki Matsunaga	....	project co-advisor: T.Y. Limited
Marco Mattei	....	production accountant
Marco Mattei	....	production accountant: Italy
Soela Melaranci	....	production secretary: Italy
Tomoko Mikuni	....	cast liaison: Japan
Darlene Milley	....	insurance services: AOL/Ruben-Winkler
Takashi Mimatsu	....	location manager: Japan
Shigeyuki Mito	....	legal advisor: Japan
Wakako Miyakuni	....	production coordinator: Japan
Kiyomi Miyata	....	food coordinator: Japan
Vito Morea	....	crowd marshall: Italy
Izumi Murano	....	nutrition advisor: Ms. Ashina, Japan
Takanori Muto	....	set production assistant: Japan
Masao Nagai	....	location and budget advisor: Japan
Yukiko Nakajima	....	translator: Japan
Katsuo Naruse	....	dialogue supervisor: Japan
Mahmoud Nasr	....	runner: second unit, Egypt
Chantal Neveu	....	secretary: Mr. Girard
Nozomi	....	assistant: Mr. Debin, Japan
Shinji Ogawa	....	creative advisor: Asmik Ace Entertainment
Izumi Ohtomi	....	assistant: Mr. Girard, Japan
Takashi Otsuki	....	stand-in: Japan
Jackie Page	....	publicist: Italy
Alessandro Pantano	....	production assistant: second unit
Laura Paolucci	....	head of development: Fandango
Giorgia Passarelli	....	assistant production coordinator: Italy
Alexy Petrov	....	translator: second unit, Russia
Sebastiano Pino	....	horse groomer: second unit, Italy
Walter Poli	....	location contact: Sermoneta, Italy
Guendalina Ponti	....	production attorney
Hugh Probyn	....	assistant: Mr. Fichman, Rhombus Media
Patrizia Punzo	....	nurse: Italy
Angelo Ragusa	....	horse master: Itraly
Gabriele Ragusa	....	animal wrangler: second unit, Italy
Gianluca Rosetta	....	craft service assistant: Italy
Jim Russell	....	legal services
Takao Sakamoto	....	set production assistant: Japan
Steven Saltzman	....	legal services
Masayuki Sano	....	business coordinator: Asmik Ace Entertainment
Angelo Scalia	....	kitchen technician: Italy
Melissa Scowcroft	....	researcher
Melissa Scowcroft	....	script consultant
Toshiki Shinbo	....	set production assistant: Japan
Hazem Shoeib	....	production assistant: second unit, Egypt
Michael Singer	....	publicist: Japan
Norika Sky-Sora	....	manager: Mr. Sakamoto (as Norika 'Sky' Sora)
Daniela Staffa	....	publicist: Fandango
Dominic Stubbs	....	accountant: Rhombus Media
Mon Takada	....	production assistant: second uniut, Russia
Midori Takei	....	stand-in: Japan
Kazunari Takeuchi	....	catering coordinator: Japan
Shinji Takeuchi	....	project co-advisor: Asmik Ace Entertainment
Antonia Tammaro	....	payroll: Italy
Mitsunori Tanaka	....	horse coordinator: Japan
Miyuki Tanaka	....	location manager: Japan
Toru Tanaka	....	production intern: Japan
Hironori Terashima	....	business coordinator: Asmik Ace Entertainment
Masao Teshima	....	project advisor: Asmik Ace Entertainment
Massimo Trapani	....	craft service assistant: Italy
Kaz Tsujio	....	piano tuner: Mr. Sakamoto
Masako Tsukahara	....	unit publicist: Japan
Haruka Tsutsui	....	production assistant: bilingual, Japan
Hiroshi Tsuyuri	....	publicist: Japanese Media, Japan
Meiraku Ueda	....	master of sencha-ogawaryu: Japan
Andrew Utech	....	english coach: Mr. Yakusho and Ms. Nakatani, Japan
Daniel Virgulto	....	craft service assistant: Italy
Masazumi Watanabe	....	development advisor: Japan
Rebecca Whitcomb	....	production assistant: bilingual, Japan
Julia Wilson Dickson	....	dialogue coach
Austin Wong	....	production attorney
Ichiro Yamamoto	....	production assistant: Japan
Yoshikazu Yamamoto	....	stand-in: Japan
Takeshi Yokooka	....	production intern: Japan
Claudio Zampetti	....	corporate accountant: Fandango
Valentina Ziryanova	....	translator: second unit, Russia
Nathalie Baldascini	....	assistant to foreign cast and crew (uncredited)
Raffaella Di Giulio	....	assistant to executive producer (uncredited)
Joe Iacono	....	financial auditor (uncredited)
Kevin Krikst	....	assistant: niv fichman (uncredited)

Thanks
Indira Guha	....	thanks
Masato Hara	....	very special thanks
Tsuguhiko Kadokawa	....	very special thanks

Production Companies

• Rhombus Media
• Fandango
• Bee Vine Pictures
• Asmik Ace Entertainment
• Astral Media
• Canadian Television Fund
• Harold Greenberg Fund, The
• IFF/CINV
• Medusa Film
• Movie Central Network
• Movie Network, The (TMN)
• Odeon Films
• Productions Soie
• T.Y.
• Téléfilm Canada
• Vice Versa Film
• Works Media Group, The

Distributors

• ARM Distribution (2008) (Taiwan) (theatrical)
• Alliance Atlantis Motion Picture Distribution (2007) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Alliance Atlantis Vivafilm (2007) (Canada) (theatrical) (French release)
• Bazuca Films (2008) (Chile) (theatrical)
• Benelux Film Distribution (2008) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Cathay-Keris Films (2007) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Distribution Company (2008) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Entertainment Film Distributors (2007) (UK) (theatrical)
• Fandango (2007) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Metropolitan Filmexport (2009) (France) (theatrical)
• Picturehouse Entertainment (2007) (USA) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2008) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Asmik Ace Entertainment (2008) (Japan) (all media)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• FS Film Oy (2008) (Finland) (DVD)
• Picturehouse Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• M.A.G. Special Effects (special effects)
• Studio Ex-centris (digital visual effects)

Other Companies

• AON/Ruben-Winkler Entertainment Insurance  insurance services (as Aon/Reuben-Winkler)
• Ateliers Claude Beaugrand  sound editing services
• Brush  buildings: Iriyamabe Village, Japan
• Cinesicurtà  insurance services: Italy
• Citelab  digital intermediate
• DVS Communications  avid editing equipment (as DVs Communications)
• De Lane Lea  additional adr studio
• Dolby Laboratories  sound post-production
• E. Rancati  art department supplier: Italy
• Executive Service Palazzi  security services: Italy
• Film Finances Canada  completion bond
• Funtech  insurance services: Japan
• Glenn Gould Studio  music recording studio
• Global Vision  digital intermediate
• Izumien  buildings: Iriyamabe Village, Japan
• KAB Studios  score mixing studio
• Koi Pictures  production services: Japan (as Koi's Pictures)
• Kurosawa Film Studio  lighting equipment
• Legacy Recording Studios  music recording studio
• Marko Studios  adr: doley and re-recording studio
• Nakano Cement Kojo  buildings: Iriyamabe Village, Japan
• Ohkura Mokkoph  buildings: Iriyamabe Village, Japan
• Panalight  camera equipment
• Renato Postiglione  art department supplier: Italy
• Rhombus Media  post-production
• Sanwa Cine Equipment  camera equipment
• Sedic International  location and budget advisor
• Shinobu Deguchi Animal Production  animal and bird training
• Sound One  additional adr studio
• Studio A-509  music recording studio
• Surefire Film Productions  developed in association with (as Surefire Films)
• Takatsu  art department supplier: Japan
• Tirelli Costumi  costumes by
• Toho Studios  casting
• Toho Studios  sound stages
• Yamamoto Construction  buildings: Iriyamabe Village, Japan
• Yoshida Art  buildings: Iriyamabe Village, Japan

Also Known As:

Seta (Italy)
Soie (France)

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality and nudity.

Runtime:

107 min | Canada:112 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

Canada | France | Italy | UK | Japan

Language:

English | Japanese | Latin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

USA:R | Canada:14A | Singapore:M18 | Ireland:15A | Hong Kong:IIB | Taiwan:R-18 | Japan:PG-12 | Netherlands:12 | Finland:K-13 | Argentina:13 | South Korea:18 | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Baba House Museum, Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan

Company:

Rhombus Media

Quotes:

[first lines]
Hervé Joncour: Steaming water. Strange trees. Laughing children. Her skin... those eyes. But why should I tell you about it? Why now? Maybe I just need to tell someone about it. And that someone is you.

A Nutshell Review: Silk

If Fate would have it, I would have the opportunity to go to Tokyo for this year's Japanese International Film Festival, and watched this as the closing film. Initially I had mixed this up with Atonement, also starring Keira Knightley in a period romance story, except that this one had shades of The Last Samurai thrown in, with the love triangle moments with the involvement of a Japanese girl.

Based on the novel by Alessandro Baricco, Silk takes its name from the Silk trade, where a French village looks to having its economy hit, if not for Alfred Monlina's Baldabiou who ventures into opening a silk mill and employing the townsfolk. However, in need of untainted silkworm eggs, free from an epidemic striking Europe, he sends overseas one of his staff Herve Joncour (Michael Pitt), whom is indebted to him for arranging his marriage with Knightley's Helene, and off he goes on the arduous journey first to Africa, then to the land of the rising sun, now in the impending stage of internal strife.

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 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 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 to go home to.

While the movie has that central conflict that provides the fuel to propel the movie forward, somehow it never gets utilized, having the story and characters dance around on the sidelines of the issue, never to take it head on. This adds to the frustration of watching the deliberations that they have, made worse as the movie chooses to unfold itself extremely slowly, taking too much of its own sweet time. Fans of Keira Knightley would have watched this movie solely to see her performance after the Pirates double bill, but sadly, even though she's given top billing, her screen time is limited, as the spotlight falls on Michael Pitt's Herve and we are told of this story through his eyes.

What adds to the annoyance as well, is that the movie is sans English subtitles. Having it set in France but the characters speaking in English is understandable (after all, Pitt is American and Knightley is English), but having the Japanese speak in their native tongue, and not providing the subtitles, removes a layer that would have provided probably a deeper understanding of the movie. Yes, granted we are supposed to feel the pain of Herve in his inability to connect with the people and the one he loves, but I don't feel that this should be done at the expense of understanding, especially for non-Japanese speaking folks.

However, despite its obvious flaws, the movie redeems itself with a powerful end, packing quite a punch especially when you think it's headed nowhere and probably into mediocrity. Suddenly you discover that things are again not always what they seem, and wonder just who the bigger fool is. But the bottomline, if there's a message to be taken away from this movie, is again never to give in to temptation, and truly treasure your loved ones. Tried and tested, clichéd but true.