Vue Lumière will release “Kokuho,” the highest-grossing Japanese live-action film of all time in Japan, in U.K. and Ireland cinemas.
Directed by Lee Sang-il from a screenplay by Okudera Satoko, the kabuki theater drama has generated $125 million in Japan since its release. The film received a best make-up and hairstyling nomination at the 98th Academy Awards after making the December shortlist as Japan’s submission for best international feature film.
The film premiered in Directors’ Fortnight at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. Ahead of its U.K. and Ireland theatrical rollout, “Kokuho” will screen at Glasgow Film Festival on March 1-2 and Dublin International Film Festival on March 1.
Based on Yoshida Shuichi’s 2018 novel, the period drama spans five decades and centers on the rivalry and friendship between two men in the Kabuki theater world. Set in 1964 Nagasaki, the story follows 15-year-old Kikuo, whose yakuza father’s death leads him to be mentored by a renowned Kabuki actor. Training alongside the actor’s son Shunsuke, the pair embark on parallel journeys, with one eventually becoming a master of the traditional art form.
The cast includes Yoshizawa Ryo, Yokohama Ryusei, Takahata Mitsuki, Terajima Shinobu, Tanaka Min and Ken Watanabe.
“A vivid portrait of a legendary Kabuki actor over the course of his career, “Kokuho” joins a rich tradition of films that depict the personal cost of making art,” said the Variety review of the film.
Vue Lumière, the distribution arm of European cinema chain Vue, releases 10-12 independent international titles annually. The company’s upcoming slate includes “Little Amelie,” “The Thing with Feathers” starring Benedict Cumberbatch, and “100 Nights of Hero” featuring Emma Corrin and Nicholas Galitzine.
“Kokuho” opens in U.K. and Ireland cinemas on April 3.