The Magnificent Nine

Residents of a town are having trouble due to the land tax and forced labor. Nine people who worry about the future of their town set up a risky plan to save the town. If they're caught, they will lose their lives. It is eighteenth century Japan and the residents of a poor town lead a typically meagre life. Then nine residents, which include Juzaburo, hatch a scheme to improve their lots by running a pawn and loan business with the proceeds being distributed among the townfolk. However, the plan is risky with such commerce and profiteering being frowned upon in a society with a caste system. Based on a novel by Isoda Michifumi, The Magnificient Nine features a cast of well-known Japanese cinema familiars. —aghaemi