Kokuho is an epic tale, a decades-long story that takes us inside the world of kabuki, and features some outstanding performances.

Kikuo (Ryo Yoshizawa) has always had a talent as an onnagata. These are the female characters in kanubi shows, all played by men. He’s taken in by Hanjiro Hanai (Ken Watanabe!!), who will serve as his mentor in refining his onnagata performances.

Hanjiro, however, has a son of his own, Shunsuke (Rysuei Yokohama), the heir apparent to the family title, and the onnagata roles that Hanjiro has perfected.

The two become friends, a performing duo, rivals and more over the course of years, which also sees their successes and failures, all set against the colourful world of kabuki.

The film and the characters have room to breathe, and the story isn’t rushed. With a runtime of 175 minutes, there is lots of story, and lots of performances. There are families, rankings, struggles, and as beautiful as the stage art is, it’s incredibly vicious. And through the course of the film, you realize you’ve really begun to care for these characters, and what their art means to them, and what they mean to each other.

Shunsuke and Kikuo are caught up in the middle of everything. And through it all, the pain, the conflict, the costumes, the stories, the art remains. Their lives may be a wreck off stage, but on stage, their music and characters shine.

The camera work is beautiful, putting viewers in the audience and the stage as we explore the world of the renowned Japanese art form.

It’s a lovely film, that may put some off because of its length, but it’s lush, artistic and gives viewers an insight into the culture of kabuki.

Kokuho screens at the Royal Alexandra Theatre on Thursday at 8pm, and Scotiabank on Friday at 7pm.