Product Description

Shinnojo Mimura is a samurai sharing a hand to mouth existence with his wife, Kayo. Frustrated by his lowly status within the castel ranks, Shinnojo dreams of better days instructing children in the way of the sword. But destiny, it would seem, has other plans...A freak accident takes the warrior's sight, leaving Shinnojo cursed. Losing his status and pride, his hopes and dreams, and even himself to this life of eternal darkness, only one path lies open for Shinnojo: that of the true and nobel Samurai.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7988 in DVD
• Released on: 2009-06-22
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.77:1
• Format: PAL
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 121 minutes

Synopsis
After THE HIDDEN BLADE and THE TWILIGHT SAMURAI, Yoji Yamada concludes his samurai trilogy with LOVE AND HONOR. This Japanese drama stars Takuya Kimura as a newly blind man who must grapple with the weight of the titular virtues in the country's feudal era. Yamada and his co-screenwriters adapt their film from a story from author Shuuhei Fujisawa.

Customer Reviews

Deft blade strokes of love
Set in the Edo period of feudal Japan,a time of peace, Fujisawa's fiction shows the Samurai's code struggling to find a place within the emerging political structure.Shinnojo Mimura(Takiya Kimura) is a lowly Samurai food taster for a clan Lord.And his job is to stop poison food getting through by tasting it before it's served.He lives with a loving wife Kayo(Rei Dan) and loyal servant in a hand to mouth existence. Respect is more valuable than riches and love can cut more truly than a sword.Shinnojo dreams of teaching children sword-fighting but his ambition is sacrificed to earn a crust and he is frustrated by his lowly status within castle ranks.After tasting off-season shellfish(sashimi) he becomes blind after 3 days of unconsciousness.He does not want to upset his wife by telling her but when she finds out she says she wants to care for him.Similarly when she finds how permanent the doctor tells her the blindness is she does not want to worry him. They show their true love.There are some truths it's better for us not to confront.He is suicidally depressed wanting to end his life.Not doing so when Kayo says she'd have to die too if he did.She gets Tokwhei(Takeshi Sasamo) the servant to hide Shinnojo's sword. His family are cold,gathering to decide what to do.They push Kayo into seeking out the Chief Duty Officer, Shimada, who expressed sympathy for her plight. Kayo finds a way to survive,helping Shinnojo to keep status, income and house.Shimada does this in return for favours of a sexual nature.A blind Samurai has no place in a class-ridden society.Shinnojo struggles to keep a sense of honour.He grows suspicious of Kayo as she hides her secret liaisons, driven by love to do anything. Shinnojo sends Tokwhei to follow her and report back to him,after hearing rumours spread by a busybody aunt.The film is then about the need to restore honour after he throws Kayo out and divorces her.One of the 2 caged birds dies and is buried by Tokwhei.Finding out the truth from castle retainers that it was the clan Lord's decision to award him a life pension following his loss of livelihood, Shimada had nothing to do with the decision, Shinnojo realizes the betrayal and rape of his wife.He picks up a blade again,practising his moves with a trainer, and as in other films from the trilogy there is a climactic duel.The true duel is between honour(rigidly codified society) and love shown to be a much stronger force.Yamada shows it's love that truly defines everyone transcending rank or class. The film is a fitting end to a truly moving(feelings not theatrics) trilogy. Cinematography of interiors and landscapes excellent with autumnal colouration, superb clarity of image and compostion.The acting first-class with two new young actors(Kimura from the world of pop) and good minor roles with a good use of humour and musical soundtrack.Nice period detail.There is a hint of Ozu in the settings and framing. Best of all the sensitivity of the actors to each other created a real sense of ensemble dynamics.

A disappointing follow up.
I loved Yoji Yamada's 'Twilight Samurai' and 'The Hidden Blade' but this third effort in his Samurai trilogy, for me was a poor follow up.
The often predictable story follows that of a low ranking Samurai named `Kimura', who after a freak accident as a food taster for the head of his clan loses his sight. Facing financial hardship his wife seeks the help of the clans' head of security, who then takes advantage of Kimura's pretty wife who he has admired since she was a schoolgirl. Kimura, not only having to deal with his newly inflicted disability now has to deal with the infidelity of his wife and plans revenge on the man who brought shame to his family.
While the acting and direction is universally good, the story is just too predictable, formula driven and nothing that hasn't been done before. If you're looking for a good Japanese period drama with bags of depth and an involving storyline then check out Yamada's previous films 'Twilight Samurai' and 'The Hidden Blade' and Yojiro Takita's superb `When The Last Sword Is Drawn' which is easily one of the best Japanese films of the last decade.