For this months “Sunday Special” (where we bring you something a little less mainstream), prepare to be utterly spellbound by one of the most majestic, beautiful, captivating, cinematic triumphs of the decade! Kukohu is a sweeping historical drama is a masterclass in epic filmmaking that will leave you completely breathless. It is a simply magnificent film that has shattered global records to become the highest-grossing Japanese live-action film of all time, whilst securing a well-deserved Oscar nomination.
Kokuho is an unmissable masterpiece that effortlessly blends the raw intensity of human ambition with jaw-dropping theatrical splendour. Spanning five turbulent decades, the plot follows Kikuo, a yakuza orphan who is taken under the wing of a legendary master to be trained in the cutthroat, fiercely competitive world of traditional Kabuki theatre. Alongside his fierce rival and adoptive brother Shunsuke, Kikuo embarks on a lifelong quest for artistic perfection. Stylistically, the film is a visual feast, boasting dizzying cinematography, vibrant costumes, and mesmerizingly staged dance sequences. Beneath the glamour, it masterfully tackles profound themes of identity, betrayal, sacrifice, and the heavy toll of genius.
The spellbinding cast features an outstanding, career-defining performance from Ryo Yoshizawa (Kingdom), alongside Ryusei Yokohama (Your Eyes Tell) and the iconic Ken Watanabe (The Last Samurai). Boasting overwhelming popular acclaim, audiences worldwide have been deeply moved by this magnificent epic. It has not been widely screened in the UK so catch it while you can and for those who love less mainstream, foreign arthouse cinema this is a must see!
