Bunraku on film 『The lovers' exile』

Mar. 5—Apr. 1, 2011

• Official Site → http://bunraku-movie.com/

• Contact： T＆K telefilm : 03-3486-6881
• Mar. 5—Apr. 1, 2011
• Closed Mar. 7, 14, 22 and 28
• Admission：General public : 2,300 yen (same day) ，Students and Grades 1 – 9 pupils: 1,300 yen (on the day of the screening only)

■Running Time（Japanese subtitled version） :  10:30／12:30／14:30／16:30
※Special screenings of the English subtitled version on March 29 and 30th 18:30 CANCELED


☆NEWS☆
・Director Marty Gross will be available after the following screenings to discuss the film and to answer questions from the audience.
April 1st (Friday) 10:30/12:30/14:30
・Special screenings of the English subtitled version on March 29 and 30th 18:30 CANCELED



Bunraku on film 『THE LOVER'S EXILE』
(Adapted from Meido no Hikyaku –The Courier for Hell)
- featuring strikingly beautiful virtuoso performances by the greatest Bunraku performers -
The Lovers’ Exile was filmed in 1979 at Daiei Uzumasa Studios, Kyoto, on a specially constructed Bunraku stage, and performed by all the major Bunraku masters of the day, many of whom were National Treasures, or who obtained such designation later. Appearing are Takemoto Koshijdayu, Takemoto Mojitayu (now Sumitayu), Takemoto Oritayu (now Tsunatayu), Tsuruzawa Enza (5th), Tsuruzawa Seiji, Nozawa Kinshi (4th), Yoshida Tamao, Yoshida Minosuke, Yoshida Bunjaku and Kiritake Kanjuro (2nd) - the greatest Bunraku stars of the Showa era.

The film The Lovers’ Exile is an adaptation of the Bunraku Meido no Hikyaku (The Courier for Hell) by Monzaemon Chikamatsu. The 3rd Act, Ninokuchimura, is based on a later revision of the original, Koi Bikyaku Yamato Orai – Love’s Messenger on the Yamato Road. The original three- hour stage performance is skillfully edited to a 90 minute masterpiece which draws out the charm of Bunraku delicately and precisely. The Lovers’ Exile has rarely been seen in Japan – we are proud to be presenting this unique work in a beautiful newly created digital restoration.

The Lovers’ Exile, 1979, 87 minutes, color, new digitally re-mastered version (original 35mm film)

Lecture

A speech on the stage

Apr. 1 (Fri) 10：30
Apr. 1 (Fri) 12：30
Apr. 1 (Fri) 14：30
Director Marty Gross will be available after the following screenings to discuss the film and to answer any questions from the audience.