Asakusa Kid (2021)
Asakusa KidMovie on Netflix
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Why watch this film?
Based on the music and autobiography 'Asakusa Kid' by Takeshi Kitano, 'O Menino de Asakusa' is an ode to theatre in Japan. After all, this Netflix exclusive movie tells the story of Kitano himself who, in 1965, decides to leave university to join the Asakusa France Za, a performing theatre in Japan. It is there that he becomes an apprentice of Senzaburo Fukami, a legendary artist who, after his stardom, must withstand the rise of television and the decline in theatregoers. From there, filmmaker Gekidan Hitori (from the Japanese novel 'Bolt from the Blue') delves into Kitano's story, always paying homage to theatre and his master, Fukami. It is a beautiful memory film, with the face of Japanese cinema geared towards a younger audience, and which brings light to the arts of Japan in a context little known outside of it.
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Plot summary
A legendary master who is said to be synonymous with the Tokyo district of Asakusa shares a strong bond with an apprentice who dedicates his youth to become a comedian — but the time will eventually come for them to part ways...
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