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The Written Face poster
8.0 / 10(1 votes)IMDb19951h 29mJapan, Switzerland

The Written Face

Das geschriebene Gesicht

Synopsis

In Japanese theater, women's roles are traditionally played by men. The man playing the woman's role, the Onnagata, does not imitate the woman, as in the West, but tries to capture her significance. He need not stick close to his model, but draws far more from his own identity - a shift of value takes place, which is nonetheless not a step beyond. THE WRITTEN FACE is an attempt to offer an insight into the Japanese Kabuki star Tamasaburo Bando, one of the last defenders of this ancient and disappearing performing tradition.

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Release History & Theatrical Window

World Premiere

Toronto International Film Festival

Festival / Special Debut

Key Information & Fast Facts

Director
Daniel Schmid
Screenplay & Story
Daniel Schmid
Original Score
Franz Liszt, Giacomo Puccini
Original Title
Das geschriebene Gesicht
Country of Origin
Japan, Switzerland
Spoken Languages
Japanese
Runtime
1h 29m
Production Studios
T&C Film Zurich, Eurospace, RSI

Creative Leadership & Key Crew

Director

Daniel Schmid

Screenplay & Story

Daniel Schmid

Original Score & Music

Franz Liszt, Giacomo Puccini

Director of Photography

Renato Berta

Producers

Marcel Hoehn, Kenzo Horikoshi

Department Leadership Roster

Marcel Hoehn

Producer

Kenzo Horikoshi

Kenzo Horikoshi

Producer

Daniel Schmid

Writer

Renato Berta

Renato Berta

Director of Photography

Daniel Schmid

Director

Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Written Face.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Written Face

Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.

What is The Written Face about?

In Japanese theater, women's roles are traditionally played by men. The man playing the woman's role, the Onnagata, does not imitate the woman, as in the West, but tries to capture her significance. He need not stick close to his model, but draws far more from his own identity - a shift of value takes place, which is nonetheless not a step beyond. THE WRITTEN FACE is an attempt to offer an insight into the Japanese Kabuki star Tamasaburo Bando, one of the last defenders of this ancient and disappearing performing tradition.

Who directed The Written Face?

The Written Face was directed by Daniel Schmid.

Who stars in The Written Face?

The principal cast of The Written Face includes Tamasaburō Bandō V, Kazuo Ohno, Kai Shishido, Toshiya Nagasawa, Asaji Tsutakiyokomatsu.

When was The Written Face released and how long is it?

The Written Face was released in 1995 with a total runtime of 1h 29m.

Who composed the musical score for The Written Face?

The original motion picture soundtrack for The Written Face was composed by Franz Liszt, Giacomo Puccini.