Epic, operatic, Kabuki infused spectacle, KOKUHO is a vision splendid.
At nearly three hours long, it is a testament to the film’s visual beauty and dramatic depth that it never fails to fascinate.
Beginning on New Year’s Day, 1964 in Nagasaki, KOKUHO has 14 year old Kikuo performing amateur Kabuki at his Yakuza dad’s New Year celebration party. In attendance is the city’s best professional Kabuki star, Hanjiro, who is impressed by the youngster’s natural ability.
After Kikuo is orphaned by a gangland hit, Hanjiro adopts him and makes him his apprentice. This makes him both companion and competitor to Hanjiro’s son, Shunsuke.
The narrative sweeps through half a century of triumph and failure, valleys and troughs, in both boys’ careers, illustrated along the way by performances of classic Kabuki.
Sumptuous in its production and costume design, KOKUHO is Japan’s official Oscars submission this year and already a national phenomenon. It has been selected to open the 29th Japanese Film Festival.
The full program is available now at www.japanesefilmfestival.net.
Venues:
Palace Norton Street: 99 Norton Street, Leichhardt NSW.
Palace Moore Park: 22 Lang Rd, Moore Park NSW.
Palace Central: Level 3, Central Park Mall, 28 Broadway, Chippendale NSW.
Art Gallery of NSW: The Domain, Art Gallery Rd, Sydney NSW. Naala Nura (Sth Building).
