10 Greatest Samurai Films Of The 21st Century
4. Love And Honour
The third and final entry in the Edo period trilogy from Yoji Yamada, 2006's Love and Honor is a more domestic style of Samurai film. It delves deeper into the day-to-day life of these warriors when they weren't on the field of battle.
The films revolves around the low-caste samurai Mimura Shinnojo (played by Takuya Kimura) who seeks additional respect by starting a kendo school for boys of all social leanings. However, his lowly place as a food taster for his local lord creates constant obstacles that get in his way.
After losing his eyesight thanks to a poor choice of food, Shinnojo's life and relationships slowly begin to crumble around him and he comes to a painful realisation that his goals in life are inevitably unattainable. It's the little intricacies in the performances that make all the difference here, with some excellent performances that were lauded by critics at the time. The film's premiere at Toronto International Film Festival speaks to its appeal beyond its native borders.
Reconciliation and learning to live with one's disadvantages are both key themes throughout and the reflective acting provided by Kimura delivers much of the emotional heft. Love and Honor successfully concludes its trilogy with a considerable amount of pathos.