Love And Honor

Year: 2006
Director: Yoji Yamada
Cast: Takuya Kimura, Rei Dan, Takashi Sasano, Mitsugoro Bando

I had heard a lot of good things about this film when it opened in the international screens section of the local cinema, so I decided to give it a go. And true enough, it is a masterpiece to behold. Without further ado, let me begin.

Love And Honor is a samurai movie which focuses on a young samurai by the name of Shinnojo Mimura. He has a good life, with a nice home and a loyal wife, Kayo, by his side. However he grows tired of his duty at the palace, which is being the food taster for the samurai lord. Having that task means that Shinnojo tastes the food for poison before his master eats it. It is obviously not a dignified or meaningful job to have, as Shinnojo desires to leave it and open his own martial arts dojo someday.

However, one day his world comes crashing down when he falls seriously ill after eating a poisoned shellfish in service of his duty. As a result, he becomes blind, and is now unable to continue his duty. Feeling useless and not wanting to depend on others for the rest of his life, Shinnojo tries to kill himself, but is persuaded by his loving wife and loyal manservant, Tokuhei, not to.

Kayo, who is determined to help her husband, seeks outside help, but all she encounters are unsympathetic relatives. So she turns to the Chief Duty Officer of the samurai, Shimada, to put in a good word for her husband at the palace. He agrees, but it comes with a hefty price: her dignity and honor. When Shinnojo learns of this, he vows to defend Kayo's honor and prepares for a duel against the corrupt Shimada.....

This is probably my first ever Japanese film, and I can't even begin to tell you what a refreshing change this is from the stuff I have grown accustomed to seeing. What we have here is a simple story of what the title describes: love and honor. Director Yoji Yamada does wonders in bringing this basic and underrated story to life on screen. Every scene, motion and emotion isn't wasted at all. Not for even a second. Yamada manages to flesh out his characters beautifully and bring the right amount of drama, tension and even comedy to his work. Even the fight scene at the end is well executed, though it's more dramatic than stylish. This isn't The Last Samurai after all.

And what of the cast? Excellent indeed. Kimura is wonderful as the tormented Shinnojo, who displays a great range of emotions, from anger to sadness to frustration to happiness. Rei Dan is also equally brilliant as his wife Kayo. She does well in fleshing out the love and loyalty for her husband, as well as the guilt stemming from her actions. Not to be forgotten is Takashi Sasano as Tokuhei. The old man does a splendid job playing the loyal servant to the lead couple. In fact, I dare say this story would have been hollow without him in it.

This film is the third in a trilogy of samurai films by Yamada, the first two being Twilight Samurai and The Hidden Blade. Now I think I ought to find those two films at the video store. If you haven't seen this film yet, go find it. You won't regret it. (4.5/5)