Revenge of a Kabuki Actor

Kon Ichikawa's 1963 classic Revenge of a Kabuki Actor (originally released in the U.S. as An Actor's Revenge) focuses on Yukinojo (Kazuo Hasegawa), a 19th-century kabuki theater star specializing in onnagata roles (i.e., female impersonator—women did not perform on stage at the time). But Yukinojo intends to use his onnagata skills for more than mere dramatic effect: he is planning revenge against three ruthless and powerful men who drove his parents to madness and suicide some 20 years earlier. Hasegawa's stunning lead performance and Ichikawa's excellent visual conception (which borrows heavily from the theatrical trappings of the kabuki setting) combine to create a powerful, emotionally raw film that may not be as well known as the director's The Burmese Harp or 47 Ronin, but will make a very welcome addition to any collection of classic Japanese cinema. Highly recommended. (P. Hall)