Tamasaburo "The Written Face - Interviews" 坂東玉三郎 書かれた顔

In this excerpt of the 1995 film "The Written Face (書かれた顔)" by Daniel Schmid, Tamasaburo talked about being an onnagata (female role specialist). This clip also includes footage of him dancing at 6, a section of the kabuki play "Tsumorokoi Yuki No Seki No To (積恋雪積扉)", plus an additional interview of Sugimura Haruko (杉村春子), one of Tamasaburo's idols.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• 坂東玉三郎
• bando
• tamasaburo
• 書かれた顔
• daniel
• schmid
• written
• face
• kabuki
• 歌舞伎
• onnagata
• 女形
• 杉村春子
• sugimura
• haruko
• japan
• dance
• geisha

[Jarodael]

Is it possible to get the whole documentary ? as a DVD ? I can't find it ... if someone has some information about it, please tell me !

[tiffenakou]

@Jarodael yes, Icarus once published this as a DVD.

[mckavitt]

I adored this film and, most especially, the interview with Sugimura Haruko. How i love and miss this very great actress who often played unsympathetic women, but never totally and so naturally.

[tiffenakou]

@mckavitt I agree.

[tiffenakou]

I miss Sugimura Haruko too. As much as I admire Tamasaburo, there are things in Sugimura's roles that are unique to herself, and hard to imitate.

[syinyc]

from where could i get the whole movie ofかれた顔)" ?

[tiffenakou]

Icarus Films is a US distributor for this film.

[Lawrblood]

Oh my God, he is so adorable. He covered his face when he laughed. x3

[xxliew]

You don't have to be gay to be feminine. Males acting as females are one of the most traditional conventions of Kabuki theater... Moreover, onnagata roles and acting styles are often passed on in acting families, from father to son. So I guess it would have to be really difficult if being gay was a prerequisite to being an onnagata. Furthermore, currently many Kabuki actors switch between playing female and male roles...

[kieran196]

@xxliew I William Shakespears time female roles were played by young men.

[SebrielLeCiel]

so cute when he was a little kid. 

[manatsunoshi]

lol, comparing creative process to cooking food is so... japanese :D tamasaburo sensei is so adorable! i wish i could watch the whole movie! his musings seem worthwhile :)

[NowhereWoman152]

7:56 - 8:10 Just about broke my heart! What a lovely, intelligent, expressive guy.

[merryaardvark]

@gypsygoddessdeva That's ludicrous! Shop around and you can get it for far cheaper. I got a DVD of "the written face" (with English subtitles) from swissdvdshop for a decent price. If you can use a computer, the fact that it is a zone 2 DVD shouldn't be a problem. I have never seen kabuki filmed so well, I can't tire of watching it.

[gypsygoddessdeva]

@tiffenakou I just wish it wasn't $398.00. If Kabuki was more popular here in the states, we would prob have much to choose from and at better prices. Oh well, guess I better start saving up! Tamasaburo is worth it.