On the Scene: The Deeply Moivng and Immersive “Art of Benshi”

I had the privilege of attending The Art of Benshi at BAM on Friday and it was an immersive and unique experience.

Benshi, derived from katsudō benshi, or “movie orator,” refers to performers who provide music and live narration for silent films, as well as live Japanese translations for silent American films. Beyond acting as translators, Benshi are expected to add personality and depth to their performances, immersing the audience deeper into the film. For years, I’ve attended films with live orchestras, riffs, and audience interactions, but I’ve never seen anything like The Art of Benshi. It was fun, funny, beautiful, and aided by a great selection of films.

The first film was performed by Ichirō Kataoka, the lead Benshi. He had the most experience, so his film was the shortest, as he performed with the early shot anime film, The Dull Sword. Considered one of the earliest examples of anime, the film follows a ronin trying to act tough with a dull sword and fails miserably. It was comical, if a tad primitive—the animation, sadly, didn’t age well. IT WAS CHOPPY?

The expressive facial animation and fun imagery did make the short work, acting as the perfect companion piece for Katoka boisterous vocals. His performance was hilarious and captures the ronin’s foolishness perfectly, a fun start to the show.

My personal favorite, A Straightforward Boy, was the funniest of the shorts played at the show. Performed by benshi Hideyuki Yamashiro, the film is an early work of legendary filmmaker Yasujirō Ozu, and his early interest in generational conflict are played up well for comedic effect. Based around a kidnapper who snatches a boy who then harassed him, the film takes what would be a dark premise and makes it hilarious thanks to the comic timing of all the actors. Additionally, Yamashiro is hilarious switching between the actors’ voices, shifting effortlessly between the kidnapper and the young boy. Being in the same room heightened the comedy, like a live riff or stand-up routine.

The third performer, Kumiko Ōmori, the junior benshi, was tasked with performing a short and a feature. Her first performance was a stop-motion cutout animated short, The Golden Flower, a fantasy story about a boy who confronts spirits on a mountain. The short was funny, particularly at the end, but it was also deeply fantastical and makes great use of its simple animation style. Its surprisingly atmospheric and moody, especially during the scenes when the boy wanders through the mountains. Ōmori’s voice work was great alternating between the spirit and the boy, as well as conveying the boy’s eagerness and naivete.

Ōmori’s best work was her final performance, as she performed the Kenji Mizoguchi feature The Water Magician. The story follows a mizugei named Tomo (Takako Irie), who falls in love with a man and struggles to financially assist him through law school. Ōmori’s voice carries every scene of drama and grace with tremendous emotional weight. Her voice made me feel surrounded by the heartbreak and drama of the film. The film itself was also moving, aided tremendously but the stunningly charismatic Irie. She commanded every scene with grace and a sultry poise. Her selflessness and sacrifice was portrayed with such strength, that her obstacles have more weight. Her story was compelling and made a perfect companion piece to Ōmori’s voice.

The Art of the Benshi was a stunning cinematic experience. Each benshi enhanced the humor, creativity, and power of their film selections with their performance, approaching the pieces with their own interpretation and style. The Benshi made me feel enveloped by the raw emotion of each film, and I look forward to the next time I can see a film in a benshi style.

You can find information on The Art of Benshi’s tour here.