Kokuho finds frequent force during sequences committed entirely to the characters’ craft.

Even those who are not attuned to the nuances of the art form can hardly fail to be moved by this film’s sumptuous period production design, its stunning costumes and the depiction of the savagery and suffering inherent in creative excellence.

What’s most interesting about Kokuho is the way it trails through an extended period of Japanese history, embedding one in the culture without feeling the need to explain its appeal.

A sumptuous, absorbing drama about talent, tradition and sacrifice. Ryo Yoshizawa is extraordinary, and the kabuki sequences are breathtaking. The melodrama overwhelms the second half, but Lee Sang-il never loses his visual power.