Crystal Book
3.8
This European thriller, set in Sri Lanka, attempts to expound upon the philosophical implications of life, death, and memory. JB, an academic famed for his studies of oriental culture and alcoholic who has never recovered from his wife's suicide, returns to Sri Lanka to translate a book written on glass. It is supposed to contain Buddha's discourse upon memory. While he is there, an attractive nurse, Julia asks him to assist a young boy who wants to locate his father who is now living in a Tamil-occupied area. The Tamil terrorists will kill any trespassers. Compounding JB's conflict in deciding to go is that his former home where he lived with his wife is in that area. Unbeknownst to him, the boy is really a Tamil spy.
Where to watch
Not streaming anywhere
Not on any streaming service in United States, and not available to rent.
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Cast
24 people
Jean-François Balmer
John Billeter, aka JB
Known for
In the House
Madame Bovary
Valeria Bruni Tedeschi
Julia Portal
Known for
Human Capital
Like Crazy
Philippe Berthet
Patricia Plattner
Claude Delarue
Douglas Ranasinghe
Siri de Silva
Also in
Light Arose
Dharmayuddhaya
Didier Haudepin
Paulo Branco
Gamini Fonseka
S.S.P. Molligoda , chief of police
Also in
The Treasure
Pawana Ralu Viya
Seth Linder
John Arnold
Pierre Greene
Known for
9 Month Stretch
Chocolat
Jean-Pierre Sentier
Père Baud
Known for
The Murdered House
Camille Claudel
Patricia Plattner Director
Budget $2M · First release August 11, 1994 · Produced in France, Portugal, Switzerland
Box office
Budget
$2,000,000
Production
Madragoa Filmes
Production
Light Night
Production · Distribution
Gemini Films
Production
TSR
Production
France · Portugal · Switzerland
Produced in
Languages
Original title
Le Livre de cristal
Original language
French
Spoken on screen
French · Tamil
Release dates
Switzerland · August 11, 1994
Premiere · Locarno Film Festival
Switzerland · November 11, 1994
Theatrical · French
No release date listed for United States.
Belgium
September 1, 1994 · Premiere · (Namur International Festival of French-Speaking Film
France
October 16, 1996 · Theatrical
Switzerland
July 28, 1995 · Theatrical · German
November 16, 2023 · Digital · French · filmo.ch
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Some details come from TheTVDB.