Silk (2007) Keira Knightley Helene Joncour Alfred Molina Baldabiou Michael Pitt Herve Joncour Koji Yakusho Hara Jubei Sei Ashina The Girl Kanata Hongo Japanese Boy Jun Kunimura Umon Miki Nakatani Madame Blanche Mark Rendall Ludovic Berbek Callum Keith Rennie Schuyler Kenneth Welsh Mayor Joncour Tony Vogel Café Verdun Man 1 Toni Bertorelli Verdun Martha Burns Mme. Joncour Michael Golding Clerk Carlo Cecchi Priest Marc Fiorini M. Chabert Leslie Csuth M. Loiseau Directed by: François Girard (II) Produced by: Yasushi Shiina, Akira Ishii, Camela Galano In the mid 19th century, a silkworm merchant travels from France to Japan to locate silkworm eggs that are uncontaminated by the epidemic that threatens Europe's silk supply. The merchant falls in love with the occidental concubine of a Japanese baron, though he has a loyal and doting wife awaiting his return. ========== A married silkworm smuggler, Herve Joncour, in 19th Century France who travels to Japan to collect his clandestine cargo. While there he spots a beautiful Japanese woman, the concubine of a local baron, with whom he becomes obsessed. Without speaking the same language, they communicate through letters until war intervenes. Their unrequited love persists however, and Herve's wife Helene begins to suspect. ========== In 1862, the son of the mayor of a French village, Hervé Joncour, is invited by the silk entrepreneur Baldabiou to travel to Africa to bring healthy silkworm eggs for his factory. Hervé first marries his beloved bride Hélène Joncour and then he travels in the long journey. He succeeds, makes fortune and is invited to travel again to trade silkworm eggs in a longer journey to Japan. He is received by the local baron in a secret spot and falls in love for his Chinese concubine. Hervé returns to Hélène, but remains obsessed with the concubine.