John Powers

They bicker hilariously.

Although they've grown up and gone their separate ways, they're still living out feelings and experiences they shared back when they were teens in their school uniforms.

A period to which the show keeps flashing back.

We see the adults Saoirse, Robin, and Dara in their younger selves, each living out a destiny that feels almost preordained, both in its trajectory and its frustrations.

With devoutly unsentimental Irish good cheer, McGee reminds us that they carry the past with them always.

Like millions of people around the world, I was hooked by the figure skating competition at the Olympics.

It enthralled me with its extraordinary display of prowess and grace, but also with its fragility, its constant sense of precariousness.

Years of hard work could go poof at any second.

As I watched, I kept thinking of the gorgeous new movie Kokuho.

I'll explain why later.

But first, let me say that Kokuho is set in and around the world of kabuki, the 400-year-old theatrical form that lies near the heart of Japanese culture.

Spanning half a century and running nearly three hours, this quiet epic is the top-grossing Japanese live-action film of all time.

you can see why.

It's bursting with emotion and beauty.

Its costumes, hair, and makeup are dazzling.

Li Sang-il's film tells a compelling story about friendship, the weight of history, the quest for perfection, and the torturous road to becoming a living national treasure, which is what the word kokuhou means.

When we first meet the hero Kikuo, he's 14 and playing a female role in an excerpt from a famous kabuki play.

Men play all the roles in kabuki.

His performance is seen by a kabuki star, Henai.

That's Ken Watanabe, who's impressed by his talent.