"This is not going to work..."
Sunday, May 31, 2015 at 11:00PM 
For The Lusty Month of May, we looked at a few sex scenes. Here's Jose for the finale
Peter Greenaway’s The Pillow Book might be based on a text from the year 1002, but it remains one of the most thrilling, groundbreaking portrayals of sex ever put onscreen. The simple plot has Nagiko (Vivian Wu) fulfill her desire and exorcise her demons through the art of calligraphy, which her lovers write on her body. Being Greenaway, this gives way to some very profound philosophical takes on the relationship between the message and how it’s delivered, but being Greenaway, it also gives path to some exquisitely rendered images, most of which involve beautiful bodies.
In the film’s sexiest scene, Nagiko meets her match in the shape of Jerome (Ewan McGregor), a translator who insists she shows him all about her love of calligraphy...
To test him, she asks him to write on her body in a variety of languages. [More]
Jerome (I wonder if this is where Lars Von Trier got the inspiration for the name of Shia's character in Nymphomaniac) slowly uncovers her back. He begins to write as she asks him...
He begins to write what she asks him to...
Displeased with the result, but perhaps captivated by his eagerness, she decides to give him another chance...
This is not going to work. You are not a writer
She exclaims.
Never one to be discouraged by a bad review, Ewan offers her his body in return. We can sense that this is the first time anybody has even suggested they will be her canvas.
He takes her hand.
She is reluctant.
Will she or won't she?
He insists once more, but she runs away scared. Even though there is no actual sex in this scene, somehow the sequence manages to contain the entire universe Greenaway is exploring. The compex dynamics of control in sexuality, the importance of textures and touch, foreplay as an art form...needless to say so, this is not the last time we see Jerome and Nagiko together, and most definitely this is not the most we see of them, but as far as scintillating scenes go, perhaps not since Rita Hayworth's glove striptease in Gilda has so much been exposed with less nudity.
If you haven't seen The Pillow Book, the film comes out on Blu-ray on June 9th. If you have, then you've probably already pre-ordered this. The transfer by Film Movement is absolutely ravishing, with Sacha Vierny's cinematography bursting with life; you often want to reach out and touch the screen (and not just for those reasons). The extras also include an informative commentary track by the self-aware, often darkly funny Greenaway who sheds new lights on the techniques he used in the movie and perhaps ends up revealing a little too much on how he, in a way, happens to be Nagiko.
Previous Episodes...
Passionate Dialogue (Czechoslovakia, 1982)
Priest (UK, 1994)
Better Than Sex (Australia, 2000)
Amélie (France, 2001)
Little Children (US, 2006)
Music Videos (2011-2014)
The Boy Next Door (US, 2015)
Reader Comments (5)
The soundtrack to Pillow Book is also lovely.
McGregor is wonderful, never afraid to show his romantic side...along with all his other sides!
I love this film.
I told Jose a story about this film that made him be all "TMI TMI" so apparently I'm not supposed to tell that story.
But yes, very sexy movie. so glad it's getting a good release.
^ Well, Nathaniel, that doesn't mean you can't tell the rest of us.
"Go on. Use my body like the pages of a book. Of your book."
Great line. I use it a lot.