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From Amazon.co.uk
If ever there was a triumph of bricks without straw, this is it. An Actor's Revenge is based on a weary old melodrama that had already been twice filmed before Kon Ichikawa got to it. The action is set in 1836. A Kabuki star famed for his female roles sets out to avenge himself on three rich merchants who drove his parents to suicide, aided by an audacious bandit. In the 1935 film version both roles were taken by matinee idol Kazuo Hasegawa. In this, Ichikawa's 1963 remake, his outrageous ploy was to cast the same actor (now well into his 50s, paunchy and jowly) in the same double role--and then throw at him a whole heap of extravagant visual and stylistic tricks: split screen, distorted colour, strip-cartoon thought-bubbles and more. Rather than trying to rationalise the corny plot Ichikawa plays it at full throttle, revelling in its wild implausibilities and sexual ambiguity: at one point Hasegawa as the bandit watches himself as the actor, in drag, making falsetto advances to a woman. The photography, art direction and jazz-tinged music score all contribute to the mood of shameless bravura. An Actor's Revenge is a film that has to be seen to be disbelieved. --Philip Kemp
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: Japanese ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), English ( Subtitles ), ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN (2.35:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Interactive Menu, SYNOPSIS: In this renowned and classic Japanese film directed by Kon Ichikawa, the great Kabuki onnagata Kasuo Hasegawa celebrates his 300th film appearance in a role designed especially for him. One of the classic theater styles of Japan, Kabuki does not use women in female roles. Highly trained male actors, called "onnagata," perform in them, and are often more convincing as women than many women might be. In the story, set in 1836, Yukinojo (Kasuo Hasegawa) is an onnagata, travelling to Edo in feminine disguise. On his journey, he recognizes three ruthless merchants who ruined his father's business, driving him to suicide. Pledged to revenge his father's death, he follows them, and with the help of a mysterious bandit martial artist named Yamitaro (also Hasegawa), fulfills his pledge, even though this means the destruction of one of the merchant's innocent daughters, who has fallen in love with him. Actor Hasegawa performed these same roles in a 1935 film version of this same story, directed by Teinosuke Kinugasa, who consulted on this film. ...An Actor's Revenge ( Yukinojo henge ) ( Revenge of a Kabuki Actor )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By Oska
Format:DVD
As the film notes say, this was a bizarre project - a remake of a 1935 film, with the actor Hasegawa playing the same roles 30 years later.. both a kabuki female impersonator and a thief. The main story is a tragedy (look out for the Garden of Gethsemane moment)interwoven with a comedy sub-plot.
Don't expect realism - there is a strong theatrical feel to the visuals, which I think works extremely well with the plot/subject matter, and there is much hamming up in the comedy acting. Given a difficult task, director Kon Ichikawa constructed a highly creative, somewhat surreal solution, within which there are some intensely moving moments.
I found this film stunning to watch; some of the scenes reminded me of Japanese prints, and I had to watch it again the next day, pausing it frequently just to take in the costumes and sets. Even the make-up and facial expressions echo the actor prints of the early 19th century.
Don't expect realism - there is a strong theatrical feel to the visuals, which I think works extremely well with the plot/subject matter, and there is much hamming up in the comedy acting. Given a difficult task, director Kon Ichikawa constructed a highly creative, somewhat surreal solution, within which there are some intensely moving moments.
I found this film stunning to watch; some of the scenes reminded me of Japanese prints, and I had to watch it again the next day, pausing it frequently just to take in the costumes and sets. Even the make-up and facial expressions echo the actor prints of the early 19th century.
Format:DVD
I chose this movie more or less at random from the local library and now I'm buying it.. it is simply compelling from the first scene and never lets up. My expectation was not high for a movie made 50 years ago, but I found it to be timeless both in terms of theme (revenge, love) and treatment (kabuki style, highly formalized). If you seek a taste of Japan in the West, this is one good source that reaches out to everyone wherever they are from.
By Burciu Mihai
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have a great affection for all Japanese classic directors like Kurosawa, Mizoguchi, Ozu, Naruse, Kinoshita. This was the first movie I saw directed by Kon Ichikawa. When I say one man standing alone I surely can say that Ichikawa's vision is unique with this movie. The story revolves around the revenge of a kabuki actor to the people who harmed his family both his mother and father. Long has he waited for the moment and the means to reach his purpose is no more no less than cruel to these people. The background of the movie is the late 19th century. The artist tools by Kon Ichikawa are foremost majestic: starting with an amazing ever speaking lighting on the set, to the design of the sets, colors and concluding with the cinematography. The final wrapped product is an ode to the Japanese theater kabuki and to one of the oldest and experienced actors Kazuo Hasegawa, who accomplished with this film his 300th role. He plays two characters in the movie: the women impersonator and one of the thieves that are fighting to help the poor survive the lack of food.
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