In this sweeping Japanese drama, a young boy named Kikuo (Ryo Yoshizawa) witnesses the brutal murder of his Yakuza boss father in 1964. After a failed attempt at vengeance, he is taken in by the legendary Hanjiro Hanai (Ken Watanabe), the pre-eminent Kabuki actor of Osaka. Over the course of several decades, Kikuo devotes his entire existence to the demanding and beautiful art of Kabuki, struggling to balance the ghosts of his past with the discipline required to reach the pinnacle of performance.

Directed by Lee Sang-il, Kokuhō is a visual monument to Japanese culture, capturing the elegance and intensity of a unique tradition. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival to a lengthy standing ovation, and has since gone on to become the most successful live-action Japanese film in history. It was selected as Japan’s entry for Best International Film at this year’s Oscars, and was also nominated for Best Makeup and Hairstyling.