Floating Grass

Pitch

Famous from a young age thanks to his interpretation of female roles, Tachibana Daigorô is still, at 38, a star in the world of taishû engeki. A distant cousin of kabuki, this popular theatre of strolling players is an art which is given little consideration in Japan. ‘Floating Grass’ introduces us to a universe little-known to the Japanese themselves and immerses us in the day-to-day life of an actor who lives for his art. On stage, as in life, play is permanent and ambivalence reigns supreme.

“Daigorô’s beauty on stage struck me immediately. I soon got the impression that he embodied the art of the stage. But I also felt that, behind the freedom and the proximity he showed to the audience, a world of constraint and doubt was hidden. In spite of the smiles and self-confidence he displayed in front of the audience, what really moved me, as I got to know him better, was his fragility and great sensitivity. ‘Floating Grass’ is an immersion in Daigorô’s daily life, a nomad’s life entirely devoted to his art and his public. Through this immersion, my film also questions certain aspects of his private life.” Mohamed Ghanem