Synopsis

Set against the sumptuous world of Kabuki, Japan’s stylised male theatrical tradition, Kokuho opens in Nagasaki in 1964 and unfolds the intertwined destinies of two devoted performers. After the death of his yakuza father, gifted teenager Kikuo catches the eye of renowned Kabuki master Hanjiro Hanai, who breaks tradition to accept him as a disciple. Alongside Hanai's only son and heir Shunsuke, Kikuo embarks on a five-decade journey where artistic pursuits mirror the intense drama of their personal lives, filled with triumph, desire, and devastating loss. Lee Sang-il’s adaptation of Shuichi Yoshida's bestseller became Japan's second-highest-grossing live-action film with over 14 billion yen at the box office, acclaimed as a “once-in-a-century masterpiece”.

Directors' Fortnight, Cannes Film Festival
Toronto International Film Festival

The screening on 15/11 at BC will be a student screening.