i really want to like the pillow book . intriguing story and interesting character outline and ewan macgregor in the utterly glorious altogether . unfortunately and i hat every minute of it . greenaway get so enamour with present the movie uniquely and and not to the film benefit . i would not even get into vivian wu abysmal acting . you get distract from the story with 4 billion teeny window and calligraphy that roll on the bottom of the screen display the lyric of the music that play . it seem he lose sight of present the actual story and develop the plot and and get entangle with foo foo embellishment that have nothing to do with anything . it a bit like present a john singer sargeant portrait in a chintzy hallmark frame that say grandma love me . in big sparkly letter . this movie seem to be a casualty of the director auteur ego instead of what it could have be disturbingly and horrifyingly beautiful . in another director hand ( jeunet . coppola . ) and it could have be a masterpiece . in greenaway hand and it best relegate to fine art class that also take themselves too seriously .