Noh Mask Murders (1991) Tenkawa densetsu satsujin jiken | Region-Free (Blu-Ray) | Directd by Kon Ichikawa

Sourced from a Japanese Blu-ray with added English subtitles.

Title: Noh Mask Murders (1991)

Alternate Title: Tenkawa Densetsu Satsujin Jiken

Genre: Drama, Mystery

Plot Synopsis:
The patriarch of a bickering family announces his retirement, stirring competition about who will succeed him as a leading practitioner of Noh theater, his granddaughter or grandson.

Cast and Crew:

• Director: Kon Ichikawa
• Writers: Kon Ichikawa, Shinya Hidaka
• Cast:
  • Takaaki Enoki as Mitsuhiko Asami
  • Takeshi Kusaka as Kihachiro Tsubaki
  • Naomi Zaizen as Rika Tsubaki
  • Ittoku Kishibe as Detective Kamei
  • Shigeru Kôyama as Chief Inspector Todoroki

IMDb Link:
Noh Mask Murders (1991)

Reviews from Letterboxd:

1. Thor – ★★★½
   “Pretty solid murder mystery. What I liked most about this film is how director Ichikawa combines a (then) modern and purely 90s’ feel with the ancient Japanese traditional ambience of the Noh theater; basically two totally opposite worlds blending seamlessly together as the story takes us from the skyscrapers of Tokyo all the way to temples and inns in small villages. The film has a distinctive pace that is quite slow at times but does keep your attention with its intrigue and curious characters.”
2. Bruce Rogers – ★★★
   “The soundtrack’s saxophone made it feel like I was watching a good-natured Taggart (OG McManus series, please) focusing on the whys as much as the hows. A very pleasant time waster with a strong sense of place and some gentle humor supplied by the supporting cast.”

Meta Description:
“Noh Mask Murders” (1991), directed by Kon Ichikawa, is a Japanese drama-mystery that delves into family rivalry and the enigmatic world of Noh theater, blending modern 90s aesthetics with traditional cultural elements.