J-bot6 Excellent cinematography and fine performances. This is the first time I've seen Keira Knightley turn in such a subtle and faceted performance. It suits her well.Other reviewers complained about things like lack of subtitles for the Japanese dialogue, lack of emotion in the performances, lack of believability in the infatuation that takes place in Japan, and complaints that the film was 'too slow'.First: The Japanese dialogue didn't require subtitles. An observant viewer could figure out what's going on easily enough.Second: This is one of the few films out there that actually dialed-down the tendency to over-act scenes. For this reason, it's a more realistic portrayal of human beings. I'm noticing a definite increase in the number of people out there that can't seem to identify subtle emotions. Not sure what's up with that. It's a disturbing trend.Third: Clearly people who don't believe the in-Japan romance portion of this film have never experienced love at first sight (or maybe they're inexperienced in relationships).Fourth: Complaints of this genre of film being too slow are ridiculous. My advice for people who have this complaint is to stick to action films (or practise observing and acknowledging visual information). Maybe take up hiking or an art class. That might help.In summary, if you have a sophisticated eye for film and are mature enough in areas of romance (failed or otherwise), this is a film that you'll likely appreciate.

John Raymond Peterson The movie lacks pace, thankfully so, otherwise the effect on the audience would be different. Did I like this movie? I did and will watch it more than the two times I have already. It is a movie for those who love the art of storytelling, who enjoy good poems now and then and who are secret romantics. The characters are such that you will quickly like or dislike them from the start and your feeling about them will slowly, very slowly, change one way or the other. That is what the slow pace allows you the rare opportunity to do. The story is not a common one and it is an adventure, a very romantic adventure, the rarest of kind. The cinematography is beautiful, not outstanding but beautiful. There is just a bit of violence, parts of this movie require it. How the director managed to blend it with passion, love and infatuation is a coup I have not seen since or before. If you count Michael Pitt among actors you have not yet come to like, this movie will not change your mind but if you had nothing negative to say about him before than you can start appreciating his style. He is developing in quite the character actor. Such character actor is less in demand but a style with few proponents and who can actually deliver the rare performances demanded by a story's harsh circumstances. If you did not go 'googoo' eyed for Keira Knightley in the past you just may well in this movie; I did, but it's not permanent. I could go on about all the scenes in Japan but I am admittedly too bias, I love all things Japan, so I will spare you all. You will have reasons to remember the movie; I wish them to be good as for you as they are for me.

trpnallday There was once a time when it could at least be considered understandable for people to be caught up in the myth of the "orient." Few people had ever been and the people who had been, brought back wondrous things such as spice and pottery back to their fellow European barbarians.Those days are long since gone and yet some people feel compelled to keep the "exotic Asia" myth alive in film and literature and this film is one such example. The plot is silly and largely unexplained -but that does not matter! The pacing is PAINFULLY slow -but that does not matter! The acting is wooden at best and the characters all mysteriously speak English -but that does not matter either!The opening scene with the skinny Asian woman naked in the hot spring turning to look coyly at the camera should be enough to tell that the only thing the filmmakers cared about was to give audiences some steamy scenes and another tale of the exotic seductiveness of Asia.Even if that is your thing, I recommend that you skip this movie for better adventures elsewhere.

CountZero313 A trader from Japan arrives in a small English village in the mid-19th century. He is not particularly handsome or charismatic, he can't even speak English, but the town leader's vivacious, sultry wife, played by Keira Knightley, falls in love with the Japanese man and urges him to take her away. Why? Because any Japanese man who turns up has to be better than what the British male has to offer. The Japanese man is haunted by a glimpse he caught of Keira naked, slowly immersing herself in river water. Finally, he realises it is all an illusion, and that the woman he truly loves is his recently deceased Japanese wife. His wife then replaces Keira in his dreams of the river, but decently clothed...You don't buy it, do you? Then why are we expected to swallow it in reverse? This is a lusciously shot, lyrical, understated piece of orientalist claptrap. Michael Pitt takes insipid to new levels, and Sei Ashina has to put up with a credit as 'The Girl,' probably because they couldn't get away with calling her 'Asian Eye Candy.' Not surprisingly, Sei Ashina is a newcomer - no experienced Japanese actress worth her salt would have taken on such a demeaning role. Ashina will forever live down her involvement in this film, I fear.This should have been a breakout film for the wonderful Miki Nakatani, but she is lost in a stilted role. Koji Yakusho is as forceful as ever, and as such is mis-cast - why would any woman leave this guy, especially for a simpering Eurobrat? The reveal at the end shows, ironically, the film this should have been. The woman wronged, the woman whose love should define this film, is Hélène. The whole thing should have been re-written from her perspective. Hervé's infatuation with a pretty girl he saw on his travels should have been just that, a minor issue in a great love story. Focussing on Hervé's delusional obsession is regrettable. Implying that the Japanese woman had reciprocal feelings is feeble-minded.In sum, great actors in cinematic locations and a story with bags of potential wasted by mindless Eurocentrics.