A record-breaking success at the Japanese box office, Lee Sang-il’s luxuriant yet nuanced epic follows a kabuki actor’s struggle to master his profession.
In 1960s Nagasaki, yakuza heir Kikuo finds his world destroyed in a power struggle, and a new one when star performer Hanjiro apprentices him. From a young age, he grows to love and refine his art, hoping to reach kokuho (“National Treasure”) status – but his loaded bond with Hanjiro’s heir, and unsteady life beyond the theatre threaten this. Tackling an expansive novel by Shuichi Yoshida, Lee (Hula Girls) and screenwriter Satoko Okudera (Wolf Children) bring it spectacularly to life, dovetailing the lavish, complex traditions of kabuki with a grand, character-driven drama spanning decades. Ryo Yoshizawa convinces throughout as the lead, nailing both the stage shows and the relentless need to perform better.
