Sean Brenner | April 9, 2024
The UCLA-produced “The Art of the Benshi” tour opened last week in Brooklyn, New York, to packed houses and wildly enthusiastic reviews from one prominent film critic.
The programs showcase the century-old Japanese art of benshi, in which live actors provide narration for silent films. Among the attendees for the premiere performance was Richard Brody of The New Yorker. He shared his impressions on X, formerly known as Twitter:
Just emerged, thrilled and shaken and astonished, from the first of four programs in The Art of the Benshi, at @BAMfilmBrooklyn It’s one of the finest theatre and movie experiences, separately and together, that I’ve ever had; do not miss… https://t.co/A5u7FcxDVc
— Richard Brody (@tnyfrontrow) April 6, 2024
In my embarrassing ignorance, I didn’t know that such an art even existed, let alone that it’s being renewed. And it is an art in itself, original and distinct in its synthesis of performance (acting, text, and music) and movies, just as opera is more than just music and drama…
— Richard Brody (@tnyfrontrow) April 6, 2024
This is what repertory is for, at its best: expanding the very map of the (familiar) history of cinema and of the arts overall. Kudos to the artists bringing benshi back, those behind the scenes who support it, and the theatres, starting with @BAMfilmBrooklyn, programming it.
— Richard Brody (@tnyfrontrow) April 6, 2024
“The Art of the Benshi” tour is presented by the Yanai Initiative for Globalizing Japanese Humanities — a partnership between UCLA and Tokyo’s Waseda University — and the UCLA Film & Television Archive.
The tour continues with performances April 12–14 in Washington, D.C., April 16–17 in Chicago and April 19–21 in Los Angeles, before concluding April 26 in Tokyo. Visit the tour website for ticket information.