

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.
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →Release History & Theatrical Window
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
Daniel Schmid
Daniel Schmid
Franz Liszt, Giacomo Puccini
Renato Berta
Marcel Hoehn, Kenzo Horikoshi
Department Leadership Roster
Marcel Hoehn
Producer
Kenzo Horikoshi
Producer
Daniel Schmid
Writer
Renato Berta
Director of Photography
Daniel Schmid
Director
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Written Face.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Written Face.
list11
Similar Titles to The Written Face
Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling
More Like The Written Face
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.












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.




















