Fantasia 2021: Art Kabuki
fantasia 2021As with many forms of public artistic expression, the COVID-19 Pandemic closed the kabuki community of performances in Japan, leaving the talented artists who perform it without any crowd or outlet for their talent. During this time, young kabuki actor turned director Kazutaro Nakamura gathered a team of talented artists to come together and put on a kabuki show that ultimately became Art Kabuki – now screening as part of the 2021 Fantasia International Film Festival.
Bringing the world of kabuki to the big screen, the immediate experience to floor the audience will simply be the visuals present throughout the film. Not just does the stage design and lighting carry a clear passion and artistry, but the cinematography itself allows for a very unique experience between the artists and the viewing audience. Using dynamic angles that are thoughtfully paired with the theater being performed, the experience of Art Kabuki is unlike anything that could be achieved simply in person. There is a flow and poetic sense of craft to the film that is genuinely quite flooring. The costume design is also incredible, with a level of genius present in how each piece is used when it comes to storytelling throughout the performance.
While, visually, it is easy to point out how the experience of Art Kabuki might be even better than seeing a kabuki performance in real life, there is a key area where Art Kabuki feels lesser: its engagement. Very similar to watching a recorded play, some of the natural draw and engagement of being present in the theater is undeniably lost. Especially when it comes to kabuki, where so much of the story is told through dance and atmosphere; not being able to fully feel the performance live and being fully lost in the atmosphere of the dark theater undeniably hurts the experience overall.
With that said, while the film is simply a kabuki performance on paper, what it really means is much more. These artists came together to put on this elaborate and difficult show – not for a crowd or for fame but because, as artists, they had to do something. Their soul is clearly held deep within their status as artists and performers, so for them to overcome the odds and put this together to the level that they did is inspiring and meaningful on its own. The simple existence of this piece proves the power of the artist and for anyone out there with a passion, this drive will hit close to home becoming the x-factor of the film's emotional weight.
Art Kabuki might not be quite as powerful as the theatrical experience itself, but still remains a rather extraordinary piece. From the masterful craft that went into making this performance to the added thematic weight that the film naturally finds, it is hard not to be blown away by what the film manages to accomplish. For those interested in the art of kabuki, this is a wonderful example of the art form being done to its highest skill.
