Winona Mae M. Naïve BSBA - 3ENG 41 BD Mrs. Sanchez

THE PILLOW BOOK

“The Pillow Book” by Peter Greenway is a very interesting film. From start to finish there was a unique

way of presenting the story. Nagiko, the film’s heroine is the daughter of a calligrapher who lovingly

painted words and characters on her skin during her childhood and when she grows up to become a

model, she wants to recapture this experience. The film includes rectangular insets that flash back to

Sei Shonagon (and shares the same name as the protagonist in the movie), these inserts capture the

simultaneous actions or visual commentary of different perspectives on the same experience as

Nagiko who desired also for herself her own pillow book. The film is a form of an art and art is an

output of self expression and elevates and moves the soul. It is an outlet for the artist to reveal and

show his feelings and to convey them to others. Like Nagiko who was prompted to pick up her own

brush after meeting Jerome and made a manuscript out of him. Jerome was the first lover who

captivates Nagiko, which was then strongly fascinated with the art of calligraphy. When watching this

kind of film filled with sensual scenes, cultures plays a great part on how we create our own individual

views and as a Filipino dictated by a conservative culture somehow influences on how the way we

think and feel, but this film tries to display a magnificent story. Ultimately, what we think and how we

think lies in our hearts. With the evident showcase of flesh all throughout the film, it is noteworthy to

address the issue on whether sexual pleasure is really the ultimate level to achieve a higher goal? As

for the protagonist who bids revenge to an exploitive publisher who blackmailed her father which led

to a series of books painted on skin. In the end you would find that even Nagiko used her body to an

extreme extent in search for gratification and pleasure, she had not lost her mind, and eventually

came to do what was right for her and her child. Overall the movie is exemplary which would capture

the attention of any viewer. The film is sensually stylistic with beautiful imagery. Mr. Greeneway’s

work is filled captivating symmetries coming from his brilliant tricks.