A Performance on Femininity (2022)

• documentary

Logline

A journey into Kikunu Ono's identity as a female geisha in Nara, Japan. Ono shares her profound experiences, challenging societal norms and transcending gender labels.

Plot Summary

The film delves into the engrossing exploration of Kikunu Ono’s identity as a female geisha in Nara, Japan. Ono shares her profound journey, shedding light on her years of performing in this traditional role. Struggling with self-definition, she transcends conventional gender labels, now identifying as “it” rather than as a woman, constrained by societal expectations of obedience. This thought-provoking documentary vividly portrays the complexity of Ono’s crisis, as the interviewer accompanies her and records her transformative process in preparing for a role that has defined her existence.