The Written Face
7.6
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.
Your rating
Your review
Cast
15 people
Tamasaburō Bandō V
Self
Also in
Demon Pond
Yumeji
Kazuo Ohno
Self
Also in
Mr O's Book of the Dead
Dress Rehearsal
Shinji Aoyama
Also in
Barren Illusion
Three☆Points
Marcel Hoehn
Daniel Schmid
Known for
The American Friend
Kai Shishido
Known for
Azumi 2: Death or Love
Thermae Romae
Kenzo Horikoshi
Toshiya Nagasawa
Known for
Shinobi: Heart Under Blade
Azumi 2: Death or Love
Shoko Kimizuka
Asaji Tsutakiyokomatsu
Masamichi Matsumoto
Han Takehara
Daniel Schmid Director · Renato Berta Cinematographer
United States release April 1, 1996 · Produced in Japan, Switzerland · Production Eurospace, RSI
Production
T&C Film Zurich
Production
Eurospace
Production
RSI
Production
T&C Film AG
Production
Televisione Svizzera Italiana (TSI)
Production
Japan · Switzerland
Produced in
Languages
Original title
Das geschriebene Gesicht
Original language
German
Spoken on screen
Japanese
Release dates
Switzerland · August 8, 1995
Premiere · Locarno Film Festival
Switzerland · September 1, 1995
Theatrical · German
United States · April 1, 1996
Premiere · San Francisco International Film Festival
Canada
September 9, 1995 · Premiere · Toronto International Film Festival
France
May 1, 1996 · Theatrical
Germany
September 5, 1996 · Theatrical
Japan
March 23, 1996 · Theatrical
Netherlands
January 1, 1996 · Premiere · International Film Festival Rotterdam
Switzerland
March 27, 1996 · Theatrical · French
United Kingdom
November 1, 1995 · Premiere · BFI London Film Festival
More from Daniel Schmid
Other films they directed, best known first.
If you liked The Written Face
Picks that share its genres, themes, cast and crew.
Some details come from TheTVDB.