I would love to see Seijun Suzuki direct a screen adaptation of one of my favorite graphic novels, “Kabuki: Circle of Blood”. The series was written and illustrated by David Mack. He is best known for a stint he had on the “Daredevil” and “Electra” series. The series revolve around a group of eight female assassins in an alternative reality where Japan is run by a secret criminal syndicate call The Noh. Aside from being killers for hire they serve as television personalities that penetrate every aspect of Japanese popular culture with an Orwellian omnipotence. Their tag-line: “Little sister is watching you.”
Before anyone shouts “Kill Bill” it should be noted that Kabuki began publishing back when Tarentino was still in production on Pulp Fiction. And as a self-proclaimed aficionado of comic books I would not find it difficult that he has not herd of David Mack.
Where as some people were turned on to the storytelling capabilities of graphic novels by works like “Watchmen”, “V for Vendetta” and “The Dark Knight Returns”, I was influenced by “Kabuki”. Before I read “Kabuki #6” the only thing I read was “Sonic The Hedgehog”. When I read “Kabuki” I was struck by the stark tone (A selection of the series is in black and white) the mature subject matter and it’s unorthodox method of storytelling. Much of “Circle of Blood” is narrated through a first person stream of consciousness style narration. Unlike most comic books where the panels are used to capture linear movement through space and time. In Kabuki space and time seem to exist in an amorphous zero space trapped inside the protagonists head, while at the same time the narrative is never attempting to “trick” the reader. Images morph in and out of one another. While the panels are not used frame a moment in time, but to frame abstract metaphors and give context to the ideas they represent. (TOO abstract a description, I am telling you, you have to read it for yourself)
My ideal casting choices would be Yanin Vismistananda, the star of the Thai film Chocolate, to play Ukiko, the protagonist and star assassin who is tortured by her past. A past that goes beyond the circumstances of her birth and back to Japan’s involvement in WWII. Her mother, Tsukiko, was a Kabuki dancer and worked as a “comfort lady” for Japanese soldiers during the war.
Tadanobu Asano as Ryuichi Kai, the father Ukiko, and leader of a criminal syndicate. Learning that Ukiko is his ill-concieved daughter he mutilates her by carving the word "歌舞伎” (kabuki: Translation “song”, “dance”, “action”) into her face.
Takeshi Kitano as General Kai, father of Ryuichi, grandfather of Ukiko, husband to Tsukiko, general during the war.
David Mack apparently has been in the production of a film for years. Probably could never find a financier for such a project. I don’t know if “Kabuki” was at all influenced by Seijun Suzuki’s work. If you compare Suzuki’s filmography with the “Kabuki” series there are a lot of similarities, ranging from stylistic approaches, to subject matter, to willingness to take ambitious chances.
RaySquirrel
I would love to see Seijun Suzuki direct a screen adaptation of one of my favorite graphic novels, “Kabuki: Circle of Blood”. The series was written and illustrated by David Mack. He is best known for a stint he had on the “Daredevil” and “Electra” series. The series revolve around a group of eight female assassins in an alternative reality where Japan is run by a secret criminal syndicate call The Noh. Aside from being killers for hire they serve as television personalities that penetrate every aspect of Japanese popular culture with an Orwellian omnipotence. Their tag-line: “Little sister is watching you.”
Before anyone shouts “Kill Bill” it should be noted that Kabuki began publishing back when Tarentino was still in production on Pulp Fiction. And as a self-proclaimed aficionado of comic books I would not find it difficult that he has not herd of David Mack.
Where as some people were turned on to the storytelling capabilities of graphic novels by works like “Watchmen”, “V for Vendetta” and “The Dark Knight Returns”, I was influenced by “Kabuki”. Before I read “Kabuki #6” the only thing I read was “Sonic The Hedgehog”. When I read “Kabuki” I was struck by the stark tone (A selection of the series is in black and white) the mature subject matter and it’s unorthodox method of storytelling. Much of “Circle of Blood” is narrated through a first person stream of consciousness style narration. Unlike most comic books where the panels are used to capture linear movement through space and time. In Kabuki space and time seem to exist in an amorphous zero space trapped inside the protagonists head, while at the same time the narrative is never attempting to “trick” the reader. Images morph in and out of one another. While the panels are not used frame a moment in time, but to frame abstract metaphors and give context to the ideas they represent. (TOO abstract a description, I am telling you, you have to read it for yourself)
My ideal casting choices would be Yanin Vismistananda, the star of the Thai film Chocolate, to play Ukiko, the protagonist and star assassin who is tortured by her past. A past that goes beyond the circumstances of her birth and back to Japan’s involvement in WWII. Her mother, Tsukiko, was a Kabuki dancer and worked as a “comfort lady” for Japanese soldiers during the war.
Tadanobu Asano as Ryuichi Kai, the father Ukiko, and leader of a criminal syndicate. Learning that Ukiko is his ill-concieved daughter he mutilates her by carving the word "歌舞伎” (kabuki: Translation “song”, “dance”, “action”) into her face.
Takeshi Kitano as General Kai, father of Ryuichi, grandfather of Ukiko, husband to Tsukiko, general during the war.
David Mack apparently has been in the production of a film for years. Probably could never find a financier for such a project. I don’t know if “Kabuki” was at all influenced by Seijun Suzuki’s work. If you compare Suzuki’s filmography with the “Kabuki” series there are a lot of similarities, ranging from stylistic approaches, to subject matter, to willingness to take ambitious chances.