‘Kokuho’ finds riveting drama on and off the kabuki stage

Why are kabuki films so rare? Because capturing their essence is a daunting challenge. Two notable examples explore this: *The Written Face* (1995) stars Bando Tamasaburo V, a real-life onnagata, as its lead; Yukiko Takayama’s *The Maid of Dojoji Temple* (2004) follows a Nakamura Fukusuke VIII. Meanwhile, *Kokuho* by Lee Sang-il reimagines Kamigata kabuki with non-kabuki actors, relying instead on the expertise of its adviser, Nakamura Ganjiro IV. Directed by Ryo Yoshizawa and Ryusei Yokohama, it combines rigorous kabuki training with Sofian El Fani’s evocative cinematography to create a visually stunning and authentically resonant experience.