Silk
“Come Back, or I Shall Die...”
Synopsis
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.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Silk (2007) trailer
Type: Trailer • Published 2009-12-31
Top Cast
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Keira Knightley
Hélène Joncour
Michael Pitt
Hervé Joncour
Alfred Molina
Baldabiou
Koji Yakusho
Hara Jubei
Sei Ashina
The Girl
Miki Nakatani
Madame Blanche
Kenneth Welsh
Mayor Joncour
Callum Keith Rennie
Schuyler
Mark Rendall
Ludovic Berbek
Martha Burns
Mme. Joncour
Naoko Watanabe
Japanese Girl
Tony Vogel
Café Verdun Man #1
Hiroya Morita
Japanese Elder #1
Hiroshi Ohguchi
Japanese Elder #2
Toru Tezuka
Japanese Guide
Akinori Ando
Ronin
Jun Kunimura
Umon
Kanata Hongo
Japanese Boy
Release History & Theatrical Window
Toronto Internation Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
September 14, 2007
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$20M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
Pending
Total global ticket sales
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- François Girard
- Screenplay & Story
- François Girard, Michael Golding
- Original Score
- Ryuichi Sakamoto
- Original Title
- Silk
- Country of Origin
- Canada, Italy, Japan
- Spoken Languages
- English, Japanese, Latin
- Runtime
- 1h 47m
- Production Budget
- $20M
- Production Studios
- Rhombus Media, Fandango, Bee Vine Pictures, Vice Versa Films
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
François Girard
François Girard, Michael Golding, Alessandro Baricco
Ryuichi Sakamoto
Alain Dostie
Pia Di Ciaula
Jonathan Debin, Nadine Luque, Tatsumi Yoda, Yasushi Shiina, Akira Ishii
Department Leadership Roster
François Girard
Director
François Girard
Screenplay
Michael Golding
Screenplay
Nadine Luque
Producer
Alain Dostie
Director of Photography
Angelo Ragusa
Stunt Coordinator
Hiroshi Kuze
Stunt Coordinator
Ryuichi Sakamoto
Original Music Composer
Pia Di Ciaula
Editor
Niv Fichman
Producer
Domenico Procacci
Producer
Sonoko Sakai
Producer
François Séguin
Production Design
Carlo Poggioli
Costume Design
Kazuko Kurosawa
Costume Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Silk.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Silk.
Favorite Actresses
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Keira Knightley Portfolio - Movies
Curated master portfolio of movies starring Keira Knightley Portfolio - Movies. Updated frequently. Last updated August 30, 2026.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Silk
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Silk about?
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.
Who directed Silk?
Silk was directed by François Girard.
Who stars in Silk?
The principal cast of Silk includes Keira Knightley, Michael Pitt, Alfred Molina, Koji Yakusho, Sei Ashina.
When was Silk released and how long is it?
Silk was released in 2007 with a total runtime of 1h 47m.
Who composed the musical score for Silk?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Silk was composed by Ryuichi Sakamoto.
Is Silk based on a book or true story?
Silk is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Alessandro Baricco".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Silk?
Silk holds official age classifications: CA: R; DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); FR: TP; US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).