Kokoro (こころ, 1955 film)

  • こころ (Kokoro, 1955 film)

10/18/18 (Thurs)

Ichikawa Kon’s 1955 film, following the broad structure of Natsume Soseki’s iconic novel, is effectively split into two: it begins in Tokyo at the end of the momentous Meiji Era, when a student befriends an older man, then shifts in flashback to the latter’s recollection of his younger years and his confession of a dark secret regarding an old friendship. “Kokoro” means heart or soul, here a deep dark place.

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Taira Jo: Puppet Salome

  • Taira Jo: Puppet Salome (たいらじょう「サロメ」)

1/20/19 (Sun), Tokyo

Salome was the final show in Taira’s trilogy of puppets and classical music after Medea (2014) and Hamlet (2016) – he seems to have something for crazy women. He was performing as in that latter piece with the wonderful young cellist Miyata Dai, who arranged the music and led a four-man group with harp, contrabass and oboe/English horn.

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