The Written Face

Almost four centuries ago, a Japanese imperial law required that women's roles in kabuki theater be played by men, called onnagata . Written Face by Daniel Schmid is an attempt to approach Tamasaburo Bando, the most prestigious contemporary onnagata . This great kabuki actor, who also worked for the cinema (The Demon Pond by Masahiro Shinoda), is considered a true “living treasure”, acclaimed by both Rudolf Nureyev and Yukio Mishima.
In this film, designed in four parts, the Swiss director delivers a hybrid work that abolishes genres and codes, happily navigating between fiction and documentary, modern and traditional Japan. Through the cross-portraits of Tamasaburo Bando and his illustrious elders, such as the actress Haruko Sugimura or the dancer Kazuo Ohno, Visage writes probes the soul of this disappearing art and pays homage to these eternal figures of Japanese culture. (Carlotta Films)