An Actor's Revenge [Criterion Collection] (Blu-ray) 02/20/18

A uniquely prolific and chameleonic figure of world cinema, Kon Ichikawa delivered a burst of stylistic bravado with this intricate tale of betrayal and retribution. Set in the cloistered world of nineteenth-century kabuki theater, the film charts a female impersonator s attempts to avenge the deaths of his parents, who were driven to insanity and suicide by a trio of corrupt men. Ichikawa takes the conventions of melodrama and turns them on their head, bringing the hero s fractured psyche to life in boldly experimental widescreen compositions infused with kaleidoscopic color, pop-art influences, and meticulous choreography. Anchored by a magnificently androgynous performance by Kazuo Hasegawa, reprising a role he had played on-screen three decades earlier, An Actor's Revenge is an eye-popping examination of how the illusions of art intersect with life.

CONDITION: NEW

Actors: Kazuo Hasegawa
Directors: Kon Ichikawa
Format: Restored, Special Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen
Language: Japanese
Subtitles: English
Region: Region A/1
Number of discs: 1
Rated:
Unrated
Not Rated
Studio: Criterion Collection
DVD Release Date: February 20, 2018
Run Time: 113 minutes

Cast & Crew

Kazuo Hasegawa Yukinojo Nakamura/Yamitaro the Thief
Fujiko Yamamoto Ohatsu
Ayako Wakao Namiji
Raizo Ichikawa Hirutaro
Shintaro Katsu Hojin
Ganjiro Nakamura Sansai Dobe
Eiji Funakoshi Heima Kadokura
Eijiro Yanagi Hiromi-ya
Jun Hamamura Isshosai
Kikue Mori Cruel Old Woman
Chitose Maki Townswoman
Narutoshi Hayashi Actor
Chusha Ichikawa Actor

Technical Credits

Kon Ichikawa Director
Yasushi Akutagawa Score Composer
Daisuke Ito Screenwriter
Teinosuke Kinugasa Screenwriter
Setsuo Kobayashi Cinematographer
Otokichi Mikami Original Story
Tamekichi Mochizuki Score Composer
Masaichi Nagata Producer
Yoshinobu Nishioka Production Designer
Yoshio Ueno Costumes/Costume Designer
Natto Wada Screenwriter
Masako Yagi Score Composer