Dear kinejapaners,<div><br></div><div>I'm very interested in this subject because I wrote an article about the film some time ago -that hopefully I will translate into English�soon. Following your answers I find �a contradction between Sarah's and FB's about the blank page seen by the audience. It very is important, because it would be another Kurosawa's key adding to the film. We have to take in mind that the 'reading' of the blank page is the climax of the film -with a second climax when Benkey hits his lord.�</div>
<div><br></div><div>At least for my article it was important because I focused it in the question of Truht: 3 lies are developed in the movie (disguised clerks, blank page, Togashi letting them pass the border); as there would be 3 elements that Kurosawa would have added to the Noh and Kabuki plays: 1) Enoken as a character; 2) The fact -in a previous scene where the Lord, Yoshitsune, is disguishing himself as a porter- that he looks like a maiden dressing up; and 3) The blank page... But, please, may someone tell me for sure if the blank page is in the original plays?</div>
<div><br></div><div>Best,�<br><br><div name="sig_d8ccd4490c" style="margin-top: 2em; margin-right: 0pt; margin-bottom: 2em; margin-left: 0pt; "><div style="border:1px dashed #aaaaaa; padding:1em; margin:1em; width:410px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:10px; color:#333333;">
<img src="http://dl.dropbox.com/u/243578/logoURJC.jpg" style="float:left; margin-right:10px; width:190px;">
<strong>Lorenzo J. Torres Hortelano</strong><br>
Profesor / Professor<br>
Universidad Rey Juan Carlos<br>
Facultad de Ciencias de la Comunicaci�n<br>
Despacho 244b, Edificio Departamental<br>
Camino del Molino s/n, 28943 Fuenlabrada (Madrid, Spain)<br>
(34) 914888445</div>
</div><div class="gmail_quote">2011/1/27 faith <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:faithbach@yahoo.co.jp">faithbach@yahoo.co.jp</a>></span><br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;">
<div>Benkei's blank page is never shown in kabuki, either to the audience or to the other actors,�not for�any formal kabukiesque reasons but�for�the realistic reason that the paper�really is blank since�Benkei et al are in disguise and do not actually have such a
scroll.� Benkei's spontaneous improvisation of a real "subscription list," which he reads out,�is part of the dramatic weight of the role.� Mid-read,� Togashi approaches stealthily bit by bit with the intention of�catching a peek at�the page, but Benkei clutches it
to his breast in time, realistically.(=�i.e., the actors are too far apart for Togashi actually to have seen the page).� Some Togashi actors at this point make the decision that Benkei is a fake either because of his suspicious fast clutch, or because T has "really" seen�the
scroll�is blank: this is up to the actor.</div> <div>�</div> <div>(The Enoken character does not exist in kabuki but is a wonderful Kurosawa invention.)� </div> <div>�</div> <div>It is also true, as someone else in this discussion�has already pointed out, that Togashi
does make the conscious decision to let the Benkei/Yoshitsune party escape, despite realizing the truth of their IDs�and knowing he (T) will die for dereliction of duty in letting them go.� He is moved primarily by the fact that Benkei later strikes his lord Yoshitsune, disguised as a
porter, with his staff allegedly to reprimand him.� Striking one's lord is something literally for a retainer to die for; Benkei does this specifically�to dis-convince Togashi's group that the porter may be Y in disguise, since what retainer could dare�offer physical affront to his
lord?�Because Benkei is willing to undertake such an affront, to his own extreme dishonor, Togashi is so moved by�B's moral & psychological courage�that he�lets them go.� (Later Benkei weeps and Yoshitsune forgives him for the beating.)� Dramatically the scroll
business is 2ndary to the beating, so far as Togashi is concerned.</div> <div>�</div> <div>Yes, it is very difficult stuff for non-traditional audiences to understand.� Kabuki is, however, full of such examples of "noble enemy" tropes whereby someone on the opposite side is moved to
mercy by the power of his antagonist's self-sacrifice in dedication to his own duty.</div> <div>�</div> <div>Kanjincho is out on DVD in the Shochiku series, I believe.� </div> <div>�</div> <div>FB</div> <div>�</div>
<div>�</div> <div>����</div>
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