Nagasaki, 1964 — After the death of his father, the leader of a yakuza gang, 14-year-old Kikuo is taken under the wing of a famous Kabuki actor. Alongside Shunsuke, the actor’s only son, he decides to dedicate himself to this traditional form of theatre. For decades, the two young men grow and evolve together–from acting school to the grandest stages–amid scandals and glory, brotherhood and betrayals…. One of them will become the greatest Japanese master of the art of Kabuki.
“It’s bursting with emotion and beauty; its costumes, hair and makeup are dazzling. Sang-il Lee’s film tells a compelling story about friendship, the weight of history, the quest for perfection and the torturous road to becoming a living national treasure.” – NPR
