by Mark Demetrius
Worth: $18.00
FilmInk rates movies out of $20 — the score indicates the amount we believe a ticket to the movie to be worth
Cast:
Ryo Yoshizawa, Ryusei Yokohama, Ken Watanabe
Intro:
… a feast for the eyes.
Based on the novel by Shuichi Yoshida, Kokuho (which translates as ‘national treasure’) is essentially a tale of friendship, rivalry and ambition. It begins in Nagasaki in 1964, where a leading yakuza is murdered. His talented son Kikuo is taken under the wing of famed kabuki actor Hanjiro Hanai (Ken Watanabe), who recognises the boy’s enormous potential in the traditional art form. (Specifically, as an onnagata: a performer who plays female roles.)
Hanjiri’s training methods are effective, but sometimes brutal, and the level of precision and sheer dedication required to become great is extraordinary. We follow the career of Kikuo (Ryo Yoshizawa) over forty years — at intervals — and the ups and downs of his relationships. At the core of it all is his friendship with Hanjiro’s son and designated successor Shunsuke (Ryusei Yokohama), in all its turbulence and intensity.
Every minor quibble that crosses the mind when viewing this film ceases to matter almost immediately. It’s essentially a simple story — but it’s a gripping one … The structure is linear — but immersive … We find ourselves aware of the emotional manipulation — but it still works … And the very few longueurs are massively outweighed by a quorum of unforgettably powerful scenes.
There is so much to savour in Kokuho, both as a drama and even more (for non-Japanese audiences) as a window into another ‘world’. But first and foremost among its virtues is its sheer visual exquisiteness and beauty. The kabuki costumes and stage sets are absolutely gorgeous, but then the whole thing is a feast for the eyes. Don’t even think about seeing it anywhere but on the big screen.
