The Silk Road (1988): cast, story & where to watch
1988 · Film · ★ 6.7
Released in 1988, The Silk Road is a drama film directed by Jun'ya Satô, running about 143 minutes.
What it’s about. In 1026, students in western China are shanghaied into the forces of crown prince Li Yuanhao of Xi Xia, who wants to control the length of the Silk Road. One student is Zhao Xingde, who becomes the favorite of his commander, Zhu Wangli. While sacking a fortress, Xingde discovers Tsurpia, princess of the Uighur. He hides her; they fall in love. When he's sent away to study Xixian, he leaves Tsurpia in Zhu's care, but returns to find her engaged to Li. Tragedy follows, and he and Zhu enter a pact to take revenge when Li arrives at Dun-Huang, the region's seat of learning and culture. Against overwhelming odds, they find a surprising way to leave a monument to their life and love.
Who’s in it. The Silk Road stars Toshiyuki Nishida as Zhu Wangli, Koichi Sato as Zhao Xingde, Anna Nakagawa as Tsurpia and Tsunehiko Watase as Li Yuanhao, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.7/10, The Silk Road has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Silk Road page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Silk Road tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Silk Road (1988)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for The Silk Road change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is The Silk Road worth watching?
- The Silk Road holds an audience score of 6.7 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Silk Road?
- The Silk Road stars Toshiyuki Nishida, Koichi Sato, Anna Nakagawa, Tsunehiko Watase and Takahiro Tamura.
- When was The Silk Road released?
- The Silk Road was released in 1988, with a runtime of about 143 minutes.