• 1999

  Release Date

• May 22nd, 1999

• Runtime

• 121 minutes

• Synopsis

• After the death of his wife, wealthy businessman Philip Emmenthal and his son Storey open their own private harem in their family residence in Geneva (they get the idea while watching Federico Fellini's 8½ and after Storey is "given" a woman, Simato (Inoh), to waive her pachinko debts). They sign one-year contracts with eight (and a half) women to this effect. The women each have a gimmick (one is a nun, another a kabuki performer, etc.). Philip soon becomes dominated by his favourite of the concubines, Palmira, who has no interest in Storey as a lover, despite what their contract might stipulate. Philip dies, the concubines' contracts expire, and Storey is left alone with Giulietta (the titular "½", played by Fujiwara) and of course the money and the houses.

• CAST

• John Standing - Philip Emmenthal,   Matthew Delamere - Storey Emmenthal,   Vivian Wu - Kito,   Annie Shizuka Inoh - Simato,   Toni Collette - Griselda,   Claire Johnston - Amelia, Philip's Wife,   Polly Walker - Palmira,   Amanda Plummer - Beryl,   Elizabeth Berrington - Celeste,   Don Warrington - Simon,   Kirina Mano - Mio,   Manna Fujiwara - Giulietta/Half Woman,   Natacha Amal - Giaconda,   Barbara Sarafian - Clothilde,   Ryota Tsuchiya - Simato's Brother,   Myriam Muller - Marianne, Emmenthal Maid,   Pol Hoffmann - Mourner,   Tony Kaye - Mourner,   Ann Overstall Comfort - Mourner,   Malcolm Turner - Undertaker,   Patrick Hastert - Man in Street,   Julian Nest - First Man in Cinema,   Ciaran Mulhern - Second Man in Cinema,   John Overstall - Third Man in Cinema,   Derek Kueter - Debt Collector,   Jules Werner - Debt Collector,   Sophie Langevin - Debt Collector Woman,   Denise Gregoire - Sister Nun,   Sascha Ley - Nun,   Bettina Scheuritzel - Schwester Fatimah,   Radica Vujicin - Nun,   Jill Mercedes - Nun,   Dean Harrington - American Businessman,   Noriyuki Konishi - Korean Businessman,   Jean-Gabriel Dupuy - French Businessman,   Stéphane Prevot - French Businessman,   Katsuya Kobayashi - Simato's Father,   Takumi Matsui - Simato's Fiancé,   Kiyosi Ishiguro - Brother Fiancé,   Hairi Katagiri - Half Woman Companion,   Yurika Sano - Half Woman, 8 Years Old,   Satomi Ando - Half Woman, 10 Years Old,   Sachiko Meguro - Mio's Companion #1,   Hisayuki Yoshioka - Mio's Companion #2,   Hanji Mishima - Mio's Companion #3,   Toyonosuke Fujima - Kabuki Father,   Kango Fujima - Kabuki Son,   Senyoichi Nishikawa - Kabuki Son,   Vladimir Bogachov - Otello,   Peter Greenaway - (uncredited)     

Trailer