From April 30th in Italian cinemas, «Kokuho» by Lee Sang-il: nominated for an Oscar, presented at Cannes, praised by Tom Cruise
In Japan, there is an art that is protected as a state asset, handed down from generation to generation with the same care with which an ancient artefact is preserved. It’s called kabuki, and it’s at the heart of Kokuho – The kabuki masterthe new film by Lee Sang Il distributed in Italy by Tucker Film starting from April 30th.
An epic film between art and sacrifice
The story follows Kikuo, the son of a yakuza boss, whose talent is discovered by chance during a banquet in Nagasaki while playing a female role from the kabuki repertoire. Actor Hanjiro Hanai, played by Ken Watanabeimmediately sensed its extraordinary potential and took it under his wing. From that moment, the film spans decades of discipline, ambition and friendship, with the same epic breadth of masterpieces like Goodbye my concubine And The last emperor.
It’s not just a film about theatre. It is a reflection on the sacrifice necessary to achieve perfection, on the transmission of ancient knowledge that risks being lost, on the thin line between art and obsession.
Kabuki as purification of the soul
In kabuki, every gesture has a specific weight. The costumes, the make-up, the movements codified for centuries: everything contributes to building something that goes far beyond the performance. The art of kabuki is, in its essence, a rite of purification, a process in which the performer empties himself to become something else. Lee Sang-il’s film returns it with an evocative photograph and a visual reconstruction of rare refinementcapable of making that almost mystical dimension tangible.
Kokuho conquers the West
Japan is known in the West almost exclusively through animated films. Kokuho challenges this prejudice with numbers and recognitions that are difficult to ignore. The film was nominated for the 2026 Oscars for best make-up, debuted at the Cannes Fortnight and recorded extraordinary success at the Japanese box office. Even Tom Cruise publicly praised the cast upon its American release.
Lee Sang-il, former author of Hula Girlshopes that Kokuho can open a new path: that of the live Japanese actions in the European market. His belief is simple and direct: what a real actor conveys with his body, his face and his voice goes far beyond what any animated film can offer.
The Italian preview is scheduled for Far East Film Festival in Udinefrom 24 April to 2 May, in the presence of the director. Then, finally, it will be the turn of the big screen.
