Actor Kiichi Nakai, 48, has been called up for jury duty in Shibuya to play his part in 74-year-old director Yukio Ninagawa’s rendition of “12 Angry Men” (“Juuninin no ikareru otoko.”) The stage play got underway Tuesday and takes place on a small stage around which the audience sits.
Ninagawa let the media in for a glimpse of action before the opening show at the Bunkamura Theater Caccoon in Shibuya, and Nakai said he was nervous as it is his first appearance in a Ninagawa play. The accomplished director however was much more relaxed, saying: “It’s easy when you have good actors. I don’t have to do anything this time.” Actor Tokuma Nishioka, 63, a regular in Ninagawa’s plays, jibed: “He hasn’t raised his voice once yet, which is pretty rare.”
“Juuninin no ikareru otoko” runs until Dec 6.
© Japan Today
12 Comments
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Bambigirl
Oh, i had to watch this film in one of my govt. classes. It was very enjoyable...i hope they do justice to it.
combinibento
For a second I thought they meant that annoying guy from Smap. That would have sucked.
USNinJapan2
Bambigirl
Have you seen the 1997 remake? Definitely not as good as the original with Henry Fonda but not bad at all...
Reiner
Hah, good movie. (I was forced to sit through it in my philosophy class - it was mildly amusing, though.)
bamboohat
How are Japanese people going to appreciate the problems associated with jury trials? I agree with other posters, the original is a classic not to be missed.
thepro
They can watch it and think, 'Wow, gaijin always disagree because no wabisabi.'
combinibento
Also, isn't race a big issue in this play? How is a presumably all-Japanese cast going to handle that issue?
USNinJapan2
combinibento
Easy. They can make the defendant a foreigner. : )
sctaber56
Which juror number does Mr. Nakai play in this production of "Twelve Angry Men"? The original black and white version directed by the great Sidney Lumet and with Henry Fonda as Juror #8, is such a powerful film. BTW, you never see the defendant as all of the action takes place in real time in the tiny jury room.
USNinJapan2
sctaber56
You sure about that? I recall seeing the defendant, a young hispanic kid, in certain scenes. According to IMDB the uncredited actor was John Savoca. I can't imagine they'd list him if he was never seen...
sctaber56
@USNinJapan2 - You are absolutely right. There are a total of 12 minutes (I checked) in the 1957 classic at the beginning and end of the film where the story takes place either in the courtroom, the mens' room or on the courthouse steps. And, yes, the audience does see the defendant briefly in the courtroom scene at the very beginning. Thanks! I stand corrected.
USNinJapan2
sctaber56
No worries. You had me questioning my memory that's all : ) And like you said, it's a very powerful film and very much a classic.