Recommended summer movie "National Treasure" starring Ryo Yoshizawa, about the lives of men who dedicated their lives to Kabuki

The MANTAN editorial team has picked out some recommended films to enjoy in an air-conditioned theater during the summer holidays. We will introduce "National Treasure" (directed by Lee Sang-il), starring Ryo Yoshizawa.

The film is based on the novel of the same name by Shuichi Yoshida, known for works such as "Parade" and "Park Life." The two volumes of the book, published in 2018, are a massive work of over 800 pages. The film was shown at the Cannes Film Festival. In the 59 days since its release on June 6th, it has grossed over 8.5 billion yen, making it the top live-action film released this year (as of August 3rd).

Set in post-war Japan during the period of rapid economic growth, the story follows the protagonist Kikuo (Yoshizawa), who was born into a clan of yakuza but was adopted into the home of kabuki actor Hanjiro Hanai (Ken Watanabe), who meets Hanjiro's heir, Shunsuke (Ryusei Yokohama). The story depicts the epic story of two men of completely different bloodlines who risk their lives to devote their lives to the art.

Although the film is long at about three hours (175 minutes), it never gets boring as it is interspersed with scenes that look like real stage productions between thrilling human dramas.