Ichiro Kataoka accompanies Dragnet Girl at the 11th International Silent Film Festival
The Japan Foundation, Manila proudly brings a rare performance by Japanese renowned benshi, or silent film narrator Ichiro Kataoka, accompanying Yasujiro Ozu’s silent gangster film Dragnet Girl (1933) on Saturday, September 2, at 5:30 pm during the 11th International Silent Film Festival Manila held at Shangri-La Cineplex, Shangri-La Plaza from Thursday, August 31 to Sunday, September 3.
Ichiro Kataoka is one of the best-known active professional benshi in Japan today.
Yasujiro Ozu’s gangster film Dragnet Girl, which Kataoka will narrate, is considered as one of Japanese cinema’s masterpieces; and is about a body guard committing robbery to help a subordinate in trouble and plans to make a getaway, but is confronted by his lover, a typist who by night inhibits the world of the yakuza. Kataoka will narrate the film in Japanese, and there will be the subtitle of his narration in English. The movie will be presented in a rare 35mm and lasts 100 minutes. Kataoka will also briefly explain about the history of benshi and answer questions from the audience.
Yasujiro Ozu’s gangster film Dragnet Girl (1933)
Throughout the world, silent films were shown with musical accompaniment. However, the silent films screened in Japan from the turn of the century to the mid-1930s were not only accompanied by live music but also a performer, known as a katsudo benshi (活動弁士) or benshi (弁士) for short, delivering live performance acting as a narrator, actor, and storyteller. Standing next to the screen, benshi provides everything an audience may need to fully appreciate and enjoy a silent film.
Celso Espejo Rondalla, one of the Philippines’ world class string ensembles founded in 2002 by Maestro Celso Espejo
Ichiro Kataoka is one of the best-known active professional benshi in Japan today. This is his first time to perform in the Philippines. Accompanying the silent film and benshi is the CER, one of the Philippines’ world class string ensembles founded in 2002 by Maestro Celso Espejo, the group’s conductor and one of the pillars of the Philippine Rondalla. The CER is composed of three generations of outstanding rondalla players and has been invited to perform nationally and internationally.
Accompanying Kataoka’s captivating live interpretations of silent film will be the acclaimed Celso Espejo Rondalla (CER), performing their own original music score giving authentic Philippine flavor to the Japanese classical film. Admission is free on a first-come, first-served basis. Admission is free! For more information on the schedule and inquiries, please check out their Facebook Page, International Silent Film Festival Manila.
This is a press release.
Images Source: Silent Film Festival
