Herve Joncour, a young man in France, fresh from the army, receives a proposal he cannot refuse: he must go to Japan to collect silk worms and bring them to France where the silk industry has been dying because of a plague that has affected them. Before he undertakes the trip to the East, he marries the beautiful woman he loves, Helene. Since the action takes place in the middle of the XIX century, such an endeavor was not without its risks.

When Herve gets to Japan, he encounters an exotic place where he is made to go blindfolded to an unknown area searching for the worms. As he deals with the ruthless man that is key to selling the treasure to bring back, he meets a mysterious woman who captures his imagination and gets the best of him. Since they don't exchange a word, Herve's mind is full of her exotic beauty.

He returns to France and becomes rich from the silk that is produced using the worms he has brought back. Helene, has waited for him, but her only regret is that she never conceives a child to make her complete. Herve has no problem adapting himself to the duplicity within his heart.

On the second trip to Japan, Herve receives a note from the woman that dominates his thoughts. Since it's written in Japanese characters, he has no way of knowing what she meant. For that, he must secure the help of a Madame of a house of ill repute in Lyons. The message, when is read by the lady confounds him completely. What is he to make out of the strange message?

Something happened to Alessandro Baricco's novel "Silk" on the way to the movies. The novel, one of the best narratives by the author, was a pleasure to read. The screen adaptation by its director Francois Girard and Michael Golding, is not as poetic as this team probably intended to. Where the book felt almost like a poem, the film doesn't do the same for us, who have admired Mr. Baricco's work. It deserved better.

The problem appears to be in the casting the role of Herve. Michael Pitt mumbles most of his way throughout the film. His take on the character is what, in our humble opinion, derails the film. This part needed someone who could make the viewer believe Herve's passion going on in his head, but unfortunately, being because of Mr. Girard's direction, or Mr. Pitt's inability to make Herve come alive, one doesn't get that impression.

Kira Knightly has a small role as Helene. Ms. Knightly doesn't show much chemistry with Mr. Pitt, thus their scenes feel flat. Sei Ashina, who is seen as the object of desire, gives the right tone to her performance. Alfred Molina appears as the sponsor of Herve.

The best thing in the film is the cinematography of Alain Dostie, who photograph the beautiful backgrounds with loving care. Visually, the film will please the viewer going without having read the novel. The Japanese and Italian natural settings worked miracles for a film that shows almost no substance.

Have you ever had a conversation with somebody whose voice was so monotone, so breathy, that they almost put you to sleep while you stood there and listened to them? That's the case with Michael Pitt here, whose low speaking narration pretty much gave me a headache from the temples because of its exaggerated gentility. He's a handsome young man, but his screen presence is a negative here, perhaps explaining as to why I never heard of him. With Keira Knightly being a more well known star, I'd expected her to be the lead, but like the Japanese beauty (Sei Ashina) whom Pitt becomes obsessed with, barely gets to say a word. Gratuitous moments of "gentle, loving sex" become simply eye rolling as another crescendo of oh so sweet music plays over the ecstasy that only the characters feel.

I hate long recitals of poetry, but that would be more fascinating than the pace that this creeks by in. It's a sight to behold photography wise, but in other aspects, oh what a bore! The music strives too hard to be profound and the long bouts of silence between dialog makes it a struggle to get through. I would have liked more political exposition of the closed 1860's Japanese society, but limited attempt is given to aide the viewer in getting any real example of what had really gone on during that time period. Only Alfred Molina seemed to try to give some passion, and he's rather wasted.

Too many films post millennium think that all they need is an exotic setting, romantic characters, and a mist of a plot to have a movie. What ends up happening is that the audience is lost either in the sleepy mood music or too busy looking at the art direction, and any attempt at real cohesion ends up missing. This us one reason I have stopped going to the movies and even caring about the award season, because in the attempt to be artistic or profound, they've just become an empty emotional shell of pretty colors and nothing to really grip its audience.

In 1862, the son of the mayor of a French village, Hervé Joncour (Michael Pitt),is invited by the silk entrepreneur Baldabiou (Alfred Molina) to travel to Africa to bring healthy silkworm eggs for his factory. Hervé first marries his beloved bride Hélène Joncour (Keira Knightley) and then he travels in the long journey. He succeeds, makes fortune and is invited to travel again to trade silkworm eggs in a longer journey to Japan. He is received by the local baron in a secret spot and falls in love for his Chinese concubine. Hervé returns to Hélène, but remains obsessed in the concubine. When he has a chance, he returns to Japan to trade the eggs and stay with his unattainable love.

"Silk" is an emotionless romance with wonderful cinematography and locations and completely miscast. The expressionless baby face Michael Pitt is an insipid and weak actor and could never have the lead role. I am a great fan of Keira Knightley, but the make-up work is very poor and she does not look aged or ill in the end of the story. The situation exposed in the movie is quite ridiculous: Hervé is just-married and in deep love for Hélène; when he travels to Japan, a concubine only glances at him and touches him in the bath, and that is enough for him to become obsessed by the woman. I can not believe that a successful novel could be so shallow. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Paixão Proibida" ("Forbidden Passion")