Kokuho

"Nothing short of intoxicating"★★★★ Little White Lies

"A wonderful demystification of a mysterious art form"★★★★ Time Out

A tale of friendship and rivalry in the world of classical Japanese performance, this epic Japanese historical drama is inspired by director Lee Sang-il's obsession with kabuki theatre.

Kokuho begins in Nagasaki in 1964 and spans five turbulent decades.

The film follows Kikuo (Ryo Yoshizawa), the teenage son of a murdered yakuza boss, who is taken in by a renowned kabuki master and raised alongside Shunsuke (Ryusei Yokohama), the master’s heir. Both Kikuo and Shunsuke are trained as onnagata, male actors who specialise in playing female roles. The relationship between the boys, equal parts brotherhood and rivalry, propels a sweeping tale of ambition, sacrifice, scandal and devotion.

Visually sumptuous and emotionally piercing, Lee’s three-hour opus is a smash hit at the Japanese box office; and internationally, the film premiered at Cannes Directors Fortnight and was Oscar nominated.