The Written Face (1995)
Original title: Das geschriebene Gesicht
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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Top billed cast
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Tamasaburo BandoSelf
Kazuo OhnoSelfHarnko SugirnuraSelf
Kai Shishido
Toshiya NagasawaAsaji TsutakiyokomatsuHan TakeharaKeywords
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Viewing momentFrequently asked questions about The Written Face
What is The Written Face about?
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.
How long is The Written Face?
The Written Face has a runtime of 89 minutes.
Where can I watch The Written Face?
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