Benshi

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Benshi (弁士 in Japanese), or Katsudō-Benshi (活動弁士) were Japanese performers who provided live narration for silent films (not only Japanese films, but also Western films).

1 Role of the Benshi
2 See also
3 External links
4 References

[edit] Role of the Benshi

During silent films, the benshi stood to the side of the movie screen and introduced and related the story to the audience. In theatrical style, benshi often spoke for the characters onscreen and played multiple roles. Stemming from the traditions of Kabuki and Noh theaters, the benshi's narration and general commentary were an important part of the Japanese silent film experience. Much like in the West, Japanese silent films were often accompanied by live music (in addition to the benshi).

The benshi tradition was adopted in Taiwan under the name benzi, and was also present in Korea from the first decade of the twentieth century where they were called byeonsa (변사).[1]

Many benshi were quite famous in their own right, and garnered great acclaim. The silent film era lasted until the mid-1930s in Japan in part due to benshi, despite the introduction of sound in full-length films in the late 1920s. The adoption of this new technology was slowed by the popularity and influence of the benshi. Though the tradition has mostly faded, there are still a few remaining active benshi in Japan (e.g., Midori Sawato).

[edit] See also

During the early years of the Brezhnev era, when availability of foreign films in the USSR was severely restricted, The USSR State Committee for Cinematography held closed-door screenings of many Western films, open mainly to workers in the film industry, politicians, and other members of the elite. Those screenings were interpreted simultaneously by interpreters who specialised in films, where an effective conveyance of humour, idioms, and other subtleties of speech were required. Some of the most prolific "Gavrilov translators" began their careers at such screenings,