

The Written Face
In Japanese theater, women's roles are traditionally played by men. The man playing the woman's role, the Onnagata, does not imitate the woman, as in the West, but tries to capture her significance. He need not stick close to his model, but draws far more from his own identity - a shift of value takes place, which is nonetheless not a step beyond. THE WRITTEN FACE is an attempt to offer an insight into the Japanese Kabuki star Tamasaburo Bando, one of the last defenders of this ancient and disappearing performing tradition.
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- Status
- Released
- Budget
- —
- Box office
- —
- Language
- Japanese
- female artist
- performing arts
- portrait of an artist
- artistic dance
- dance theatre
- art documentary
Top billed cast
Behind the camera
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Release dates
United StatesUS
- PremiereSan Francisco International Film Festival1 Apr 1996
United KingdomGB
- PremiereBFI London Film Festival1 Nov 1995
CanadaCA
- PremiereToronto International Film Festival9 Sept 1995
FranceFR
- Theatrical1 May 1996
GermanyDE
- Theatrical5 Sept 1996
JapanJP
- Theatrical23 Mar 1996
NetherlandsNL
- PremiereInternational Film Festival Rotterdam1 Jan 1996
SwitzerlandCH
- Premiere6Locarno Film Festival8 Aug 1995
- Theatrical1 Sept 1995
- Theatrical27 Mar 1996
Frequently asked questions
The Written Face was released on 1 September 1995.
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