Love and Honour Reviews

Delicate Film, Beautiful Man

It helps to understand the era in which the film is set, and the social standards of that time, but really, it isn't difficult to understand.

Lucky to have a position with a clan when so many samurai were masterless, the main character is bored and would prefer to set up his own dojo to teach sword skills. Even with his abilities, he is a simple food taster for a lord he seldom even sees, never mind have a relationship with. But that was normal during the era of the samurai.

When he is affected by the food he tests, his life becomes meaningless and his role in his society becomes little more than a burden to those he knows. His wife, loving him, seeks help, and makes a sacrifice for him. When he finds out what she has done, the story really takes off.

Kimura Takuya is a gorgeous man, incredibly popular with the women of Japan, and he can act. Although this film is about the masculine subject of samurai and honour, at heart it is a woman's film. Don't expect a Babycart-esque bloodfest, because what you will see is a delicate, poignant little film that gently probes the life of a samurai in the Edo period

Fabulous fable

As a fan of Samurai cinema I thought this was a fabulous film. Do not expect blood and gore, what you get is a wonderful view of life for a samurai in the Edo period who, as part of his duties as a retained samurai, suffers a misfortune. The storyline and acting is excellent !

Better than expected

Very disappointed when I realised I'd rented a sub titled film, but this was well worth sitting out. Beautifully written and acted, stick with it, it's worth it.

Better than expected

Very disappointed when I realised I'd rented a sub titled film, but this was well worth sitting out. Beautifully written and acted, stick with it, it's worth it.

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Beautiful Film

Loved this film. A wonderful study of life in the Samurai era but concentrating more on the relationship between a young Samurai who loses his sight and his young wife who loves him enough to make the ultimate sacrifice. A gentle, beautifully paced film and really rather fabulous acting from Takuya Kimura. I cannot begin to describe how famous this man is in Japan...and deservedly so. Seen many of his TV dramas (all great) and this film is yet another success for this very talented man. Subtitled but dont let that put you off as this is a little gem of a film.