Kokuho

Directed by Lee Sang-il
Starring Ryô Yoshizawa, Ryûsei Yokohama, Mitsuki Takahata, Shinobu Terajima, Nana Mori,Takahiro Miura, Ken Watanabe

In 1964 Nagasaki, an orphaned yakuza heir enters the world of Kabuki, growing up beside his mentor’s son as rivalry and ambition shape their destinies.

Crowned as the highest-grossing live-action film of all time in Japan, spanning decades of ambition, scandals, loyalty, and betrayal, Kokuho traces the extraordinary journey of two performers chasing greatness, as one rises to become a legendary master of Kabuki. After the death of his father, the leader of a yakuza gang, fourteen-year-old Kikuo is taken in by a renowned Kabuki actor and introduced to the demanding world of traditional theatre. Growing up alongside Shunsuke, the actor’s only son, the two boys devote their lives to the stage – training, performing, and competing as their bond shifts between brotherhood and rivalry. An Oscar nominee and winner of 10 Japanese Academy Awards, the film is an epic portrait of artistry, sacrifice, and the relentless pursuit of perfection.

Join Reel Talk after the film for a post-screening discussion.

This screening offers a ‘Pay What You Can’ ticket structure. Choose between payments of £4, £6.50, or £9.90.