How a Japanese man played both male and female roles in the Dostoevsky film at the same time
How a Japanese man played both male and female roles in the Dostoevsky film at the same time

Video: How a Japanese man played both male and female roles in the Dostoevsky film at the same time

Video: How a Japanese man played both male and female roles in the Dostoevsky film at the same time
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In 1994, the famous Polish director created the film "Nastasya", which can be safely called unique and amazing. In this film adaptation of The Idiot, Prince Myshkin and Nastasya Filippovna were played by the same actor. In order for the unusual idea to be realized, Vaida had to persuade the star of the Japanese theater Bando Tamasaburo V. The role of the wayward beauty he really liked and was interesting, but in order to agree to reincarnate into a male character, the actor had to be pushed for three years, because all his life he played in the role - that is, he was only a performer of female roles.

Classic Japanese theater dates back to the 17th century. In those days, only women performed in kabuki, who performed both male and female roles. But, as the legends say, the women's theater, which combines drama, songs and dances, very soon ceased to be a model of morality, since the actresses led a too dissolute lifestyle. The Tokugawa shogunate, worried about the fate of the theater, forbade the ladies to appear on the stage, after which all the roles in kabuki began to be played by men. Over time, the art of onnagata (transformation into female characters) has reached perfection, although only a few actors are capable of this.

Performance of the classic Japanese theater "Kabukiza"
Performance of the classic Japanese theater "Kabukiza"

Today, the main kabuki theater located in Tokyo is called Kabukiza. Preserving centuries-old traditions, it develops quite boldly. So, for example, modern directors do not limit their repertoire to a set of old Japanese plays, but also refers to the world classics. The unusual interpretation of the works of Shakespeare, Dumas, Moliere and other writers may surprise the Western audience, but usually arouses great interest.

Bando Tamasaburo V is one of the most famous kabuki actors today, playing in the role of onnagata. He was even awarded the status of "Living National Treasure" in his homeland. His whole life was spent on stage, the boy began to play at the age of seven, when he became the successor of the dynasty that adopted him. According to tradition, this actor always plays only female roles. From the European classics, he, by the way, played not only the heroine of Dostoevsky, but also many other characters: the ancient Electra and Medea, Shakespeare's heroines Juliet, Desdemona and Lady Macbeth, Marguerite Gaultier from Dumas's “Lady of the Camellias” and others.

Female characters embodied by male actor Bando Tamasaburo V
Female characters embodied by male actor Bando Tamasaburo V

The classic of world cinema Andrzej Wajda was impressed by the art of the Japanese actor and, planning a new kind of production based on Russian classics, invited him to the main female role. Bando Tamasaburo is an admirer of Dostoevsky, so he gladly agreed, but then the director's plan changed. Among the actors of the Kabukidza theater, Vaida could not find a type suitable for Prince Myshkin. It turned out that the best contender for this role is also Bando Tamasaburo.

Bando Tamasaburo V - Japanese actor and director
Bando Tamasaburo V - Japanese actor and director

In order to persuade the actor to betray his role, the Polish director had to find unusual arguments. Andrzej managed to convince him that the image of Myshkin is deeper and more subtle, and only a versatile artist who understands female psychology can fully embody it.

Prince Myshkin performed by Japanese actor Bando Tamasaburo in the film "Nastasya", 1994
Prince Myshkin performed by Japanese actor Bando Tamasaburo in the film "Nastasya", 1994

This is how an unusual film appeared in the world cinema, in which Dostoevsky's heroes speak Japanese, and the unique plasticity of the actors of the classical kabuki theater is perfectly combined with the European costumes of the 19th century. Why was a man invited to the role of Nastasya Filippovna? An excerpt from an interview with Bando Tamasaburo, in which he talked about his art, can serve as an answer to this question:

Nastasya Filippovna performed by a male actor
Nastasya Filippovna performed by a male actor

So in the film "Nastasya" we see not the woman herself, but her elusive and beautiful ideal. Perhaps that is why, to a greater extent, men speak and act there, and the main character remains an unattainable feature of the horizon, to which one can only strive forever.

Today Dostoevsky is one of the most quoted and one of the most translated Russian writers in the world. Many world celebrities admired and hated the Russian writer.

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