The Written Face

The Written Face (1995)

8.0 89 min Movie
DocumentaryTV MovieFantasy

In Japanese theater, women's roles are traditionally played by men. The man playing the woman's role, the Onnagata, does not imitate the woman, as in the West, but tries to capture her significance. He need not stick close to his model, but draws far more from his own identity - a shift of value takes place, which is nonetheless not a step beyond. THE WRITTEN FACE is an attempt to offer an insight into the Japanese Kabuki star Tamasaburo Bando, one of the last defenders of this ancient and disappearing performing tradition.

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Cast

Tamasaburō Bandō V Tamasaburō Bandō V Self
Kazuo Ohno Kazuo Ohno Self
Kai Shishido Kai Shishido
Toshiya Nagasawa Toshiya Nagasawa
Asaji Tsutakiyokomatsu Asaji Tsutakiyokomatsu
Han Takehara Han Takehara
Haruko Sugimura Haruko Sugimura Self

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