Director explains his choice to center Kabuki and the onnagata in the film

Director Sang-il Lee explained why Kabuki and the onnagata—male actors who specialize in female roles—are central to his film Gukbo. The movie, directed by the Korean-Japanese filmmaker, tells the life story of two men who had to surpass each other to reach the pinnacle. It stars Ryō Yoshizawa and Ryūsei Yokohama, and opens on the 19th.

Ahead of the film’s release, Lee spoke at a press screening in Seoul about his background and influences. He said, “My roots are Korean, and I think of myself as Korean. Yet I was born and raised in Japan and have been heavily influenced by Japanese culture.” He added that his distance to Kabuki isn’t any different from that of ordinary Japanese people; rather, being Korean gave him a deeper interest in Japan’s traditional arts, which is why Kabuki became the film’s subject. He also explained why he chose to illuminate onnagata within Kabuki.

Lee elaborated on his interest in onnagata, noting that he encountered an onnagata actor while making the film Akīn and grew fascinated by the role. He said he wanted to base the project on real performers and to explore a world where men embody female roles, which some viewers might find grotesque, even as these actors have spent years perfecting a mystical artistry. He stressed that his aim was to understand that world more deeply.