The only completely preserved silent film directed by Daisuke Itō, Jirokichi the Rat weaves a fictional story of real-life thief and folk hero Jirokichi “rat boy” Nakamura. Shogun tough-men, a glamorous geisha and spectacular swordfights all feature in this tribute to Edo-period drama that revolutionised use of dynamic intertitles (here in Kansai dialect) in combination benshi narration.
Narrated live by legendary Benshi performer Ichiro Kataoka and accompanied by piano-percussion duo saiLento, expect a thrilling interplay of voice, sound and vision. (IK)

御誂治郎吉格子