Katsuben!
Talking the Pictures
Year: 2019
Country: Japan
Director: Masayuki Suo
Cast: Ryô Narita, Yuina Kuroshima, Masatoshi Nagase, Kengo Kôra, Takuma Otoo, Koji Yamamoto, Sôsuke Ikematsu, Fumiyo Kohinata
Genre: comedy, drama, history
Runtime: 127 min.
Age: 12+
Country: Japan
Director: Masayuki Suo
Cast: Ryô Narita, Yuina Kuroshima, Masatoshi Nagase, Kengo Kôra, Takuma Otoo, Koji Yamamoto, Sôsuke Ikematsu, Fumiyo Kohinata
Genre: comedy, drama, history
Runtime: 127 min.
Age: 12+
Set in early 20th Century Japan, the movie follows the adventures of a young man who wants to get into the movie business -- but in a job unique to his country: a dramatic narrator for silent movies known as "Katsubenshi" or just "benshi". Comedy and action ensue as he becomes entangled with competing movie theaters where the crowds are drawn mostly by the skills of the dramatic interpreters rather than the movies themselves.
Awards & Festivals:
Mainichi Film Concours – Best Actor
Tokyo International Film Festival – participation
Busan International Film Festival – participation
Award of the Japanese Academy nomination – Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Music Score
Kinema Junpo Award nomination – Readers' Best Japanese Film
