This film is a cute depiction of the severe hierarchy existing in the ancient Japanese art: Rakugo. Tatekawa, the master, Tatekawa Danshi, was played by Kitano Takeshi, while the apprentice, known now as the famous Rakuro artist Tatekawa Danshun, was played by the famous Japanese actor Ninomiya Katsunari. Those who are familiar with Japanese culture might know that Nino is crazily famous for being a member of the idol group Arashi, which has the historical significance of establishing idol formally as a job title in Japan, their countenances can be spotted everywhere in Japan: newspaper, advertisements in subway, in closed neighborhood, in hotels, in shower places, in shopping malls, and more frequently in television and cinemas. Having a member in Arashi to play the role of Tatekawa Dandun is like having Johnny Depp to play David Bowie in a memorial film. This film was sure to cause tempest-like attention before it came out.
Danshun, the 17-year-old teenager that had his mind set on being a performer of Rakugaki after falling in love with his master's performance when Tatekagwa visited his high school for an educational show. He quitted high school immediately after the show, came to Tatekawa's house, and begged the master to accept him as an apprentice. Tatekawa reluctantly approved, but gave him no proper training, but only his own excruciating household chores. Danshun became the living example of obedience, overcame Tatekawa's condescending attitude and his waywardness with heartily respect, and practicing Rakugaki with every spare minute of his life. Then he was raised to be a Nime and achieved his dream of being a Rakugaki performer.
This is a heart-warming autobiographic tale of hard-work and success. The glowing success of Danshun is surrounded by the gray corpses of Rakugaki apprentices defeated by reality. In this movie, the figure of Tatekawa Danshi was so great and grand that his thoughts and characters remained shrouded by mystery even after the film was over. He was depicted to be so noble and above the clouds that every gesture of his was treated with huge momentum, meticulous comprehension and sincere gratitude. It wouldn't be amiss to call this movie a delicate but heavily thoughts-loaded gratitude letter from Tatekawa Danshun to his master Tatekawa Danshi. It also sought to arouse awareness in the audience to respect and admire this traditional Japanese art. This work can be regarded as the homage Japanese media-makers collectively paid to Danshun and Danshi, the love for traditional art and Japanese spirit of respecting the masters and hard-work is overflowing in this piece.
If you are a Japanese audience, what is delivered to you, beyond everything, would be pride in your culture and motivation to work harder for success. If you are a western audience, you would get a grasp of the core ideology of Japanese culture, and see the red steaming beating hearts of Japanese artists if you pay close attention to what's really being said, instead of treating this as a frivolous entertainment to swallow with popcorn on Saturday night.
Danshun, the 17-year-old teenager that had his mind set on being a performer of Rakugaki after falling in love with his master's performance when Tatekagwa visited his high school for an educational show. He quitted high school immediately after the show, came to Tatekawa's house, and begged the master to accept him as an apprentice. Tatekawa reluctantly approved, but gave him no proper training, but only his own excruciating household chores. Danshun became the living example of obedience, overcame Tatekawa's condescending attitude and his waywardness with heartily respect, and practicing Rakugaki with every spare minute of his life. Then he was raised to be a Nime and achieved his dream of being a Rakugaki performer.
This is a heart-warming autobiographic tale of hard-work and success. The glowing success of Danshun is surrounded by the gray corpses of Rakugaki apprentices defeated by reality. In this movie, the figure of Tatekawa Danshi was so great and grand that his thoughts and characters remained shrouded by mystery even after the film was over. He was depicted to be so noble and above the clouds that every gesture of his was treated with huge momentum, meticulous comprehension and sincere gratitude. It wouldn't be amiss to call this movie a delicate but heavily thoughts-loaded gratitude letter from Tatekawa Danshun to his master Tatekawa Danshi. It also sought to arouse awareness in the audience to respect and admire this traditional Japanese art. This work can be regarded as the homage Japanese media-makers collectively paid to Danshun and Danshi, the love for traditional art and Japanese spirit of respecting the masters and hard-work is overflowing in this piece.
If you are a Japanese audience, what is delivered to you, beyond everything, would be pride in your culture and motivation to work harder for success. If you are a western audience, you would get a grasp of the core ideology of Japanese culture, and see the red steaming beating hearts of Japanese artists if you pay close attention to what's really being said, instead of treating this as a frivolous entertainment to swallow with popcorn on Saturday night.
