In the 1860s, Herve Joncour (
Michael Pitt), a married silkworm merchant from France, travels to Japan on business. While there, he meets a beautiful European woman who is the concubine of a local baron. Because they don’t speak the same language, she gives him a note, which he cannot have translated until he arrives back in France. He becomes obsessed with her and returns to Japan where they conduct a secret affair, but Herve's wife Helene (
Keira Knightley) begins to suspect what’s going on. Based on the novel by Alessandro Baricco.
Canadian Connection: Partly filmed in Toronto, Ontario. Several cast members are Canadian.
Not entertaining, dull, a waste of time, stay away. 1*
A powerful, deeply affecting film.