Juzo Itami: The Man with 13 Faces (2007)
A rich documentary portrait of Juzo Itami, the endlessly inventive Japanese filmmaker, actor, and cultural polymath.
Juzo Itami: The Man with 13 Faces - Movie Information
- Original Title: 13の顔を持つ男－伊丹十三の肖像
- Release Year: 2007
- Directed by: Toshiro Uratani
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Documentary
- Runtime: 2h 22m
- Original Language: Japanese
- Spoken Languages: Japanese
- Production Countries: Japan
- Alternative Titles: 13 no kao wo motsu otoko: Itami Jūzō no shōzō (JP), Jūzō Itami: The Man with 13 Faces (US)
Juzo Itami: The Man with 13 Faces - Plot
A documentary about the legendary Japanese filmmaker.
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Juzo Itami: The Man with 13 Faces - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Toshiro Uratani
Main Cast
- Jūzō Itami
- Mansaku Ikeuchi
- Nobuko Miyamoto
- Teruyo Nogami
- Hideo Onchi
- Yasushi Tamaoki
- Masahiko Tsugawa
Juzo Itami: The Man with 13 Faces - FAQs
What is Juzo Itami: The Man with 13 Faces about?
This documentary dives deep into the extraordinary life of Juzo Itami, one of Japan's most beloved and unconventional filmmakers. Through archive footage and interviews with those who knew him, it paints a rich portrait of a man who was simultaneously a director, actor, essayist, illustrator, and cultural provocateur.
Who was Juzo Itami and why does he matter?
Juzo Itami was a towering figure in Japanese cinema, best known for sharp social comedies like Tampopo and A Taxing Woman. He was also a celebrated actor, essayist, and illustrator. His fearless wit and refusal to fit any single mold made him one of the most original creative voices Japan ever produced.
Who appears in this documentary about Juzo Itami?
The film features archive footage of Itami himself alongside interviews with people from his inner circle, including actress Nobuko Miyamoto, who was his wife and frequent collaborator, as well as colleagues Mansaku Ikeuchi, Teruyo Nogami, Hideo Onchi, Yasushi Tamaoki, and Masahiko Tsugawa.
What are the 13 faces referenced in the title?
The title alludes to the remarkable range of identities Itami inhabited throughout his life — director, actor, writer, illustrator, TV commercial maker, essayist, and more. Rather than a literal count, it captures the documentary's central thesis: that Itami was a man impossible to reduce to a single role or label.
Is Juzo Itami: The Man with 13 Faces worth watching?
For anyone curious about Japanese cinema or the creative process, absolutely. The film offers rare archival material and intimate testimony from those closest to Itami. At 142 minutes, it's a generous, affectionate deep dive that rewards viewers who want more than a surface-level biography.
Who directed this documentary about Juzo Itami?
The documentary was directed by Toshiro Uratani and released in 2007, a decade after Itami's death in 1997. Uratani assembles a mosaic of archive footage, personal testimonies, and thematic chapters to capture the full complexity of Itami's personality and legacy.
What similar documentaries might fans of this film enjoy?
If this portrait of Itami resonates with you, check out Mifune: The Last Samurai (2016) for another intimate look at a Japanese cinema legend, De Palma (2016) for a candid filmmaker self-portrait, or Milius (2013) and Woody Allen: A Documentary (2011) for similarly rich profiles of singular creative figures.
How long is Juzo Itami: The Man with 13 Faces?
The film runs 142 minutes — just under two and a half hours. It's a substantial runtime, but given the breadth of Itami's life and the wealth of archival material on offer, the documentary earns every minute of it.
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