French silkworm trader Hervé is married to the beautiful Hélène. When an outbreak of disease ravages European silkworms, Hervé must travel to Japan to retrieve healthy eggs. After a long journey, Hervé finally arrives at a village where he can buy them. He becomes infatuated with a young concubine and goes to great lengths to see her again. But, when war breaks out in Japan, the concubine flees, forcing Hervé to return home to his wife.
Keira Knightley
as Hélène Joncour
Michael Pitt
as Hervé Joncour
Alfred Molina
as Baldabiou
役所広司
as Hara Jubei
芦名星
as The Girl
中谷美紀
as Madame Blanche
Kenneth Welsh
as Mayor Joncour
Callum Keith Rennie
as Schuyler
Mark Rendall
as Ludovic Berbek
Martha Burns
as Mme. Joncour
渡辺奈緒子
as Japanese Girl
Tony Vogel
as Café Verdun Man #1
