The Kiss of an Invisible Man

Akira, who runs marriage scams, is chased after by Army Surgeon Hanaoka and his colleagues, who are collecting “things that will disappear in the 20th century” by Imperial edict. When he ran away and came to the Tottori Sand Dunes, he meets deaf, blind and mute Heren Kera (a Japanese Helen Keller), who lives with a tutor, Saribaba. He is soon caught but becomes invisible man in an accident. However, he is visible to one person: Kera. The story of the play Tomei Ningen no Yuge (The Kiss of an Invisible Man) is overflowing with diverse motifs, including “Romeo and Juliet,” “The Miracle Worker,” the mythological world in the age of the gods, the River Styx and Hades. It develops further to cover World War II and the Imperial system, and together with skillful language play, a theatrical world unfolds in all directions.

Directed by Hideki Noda, The Kiss of an Invisible Man leans on a strong ensemble — Rie Miyazawa, Sadao Abe, Hideki Noda — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about fantasy titles of 2004.