The director/star/editor of "Kikujiro" (Takeshi Kitano) began with stage comedy, then became known for his hyper-violent (yet hypnotically artistic) gangster films, and is now known as a modern master of art cinema. As the story goes, some time in the late 1990s Kitano suffered a near-death motorcycle accident, and immediately following it he made this film... which many fans call his best.
His style is very photographic, meaning each shot is composed carefully like something you'd see on the wall of an art gallery. As such, he doesn't rely too heavily on motion or dialogue, and the effect can be both powerful and hilarious. If "a picture is worth a 1000 words", Takeshi Kitano milks every last syllable.
"Kikujiro" is a beautifully wicked road movie about a cute little kid looking for his momma. What gives it an edge is the fact that the kid gets paired up with the most unlikely "guardian" the world has ever known. Takeshi Kitano plays the guardian: a loud-mouthed, selfish, good-for-nothing troublemaker who decides to exploit the kid for all he's worth. You learn quickly that this is NOT a cutesy Disney flick. Instead, it's an edgy, slightly dark, yet thoroughly charming story about innocence in a not-so-innocent world. I could go on for ages about the clever symbolism and poetic themes, the complexity of Takeshi Kitano's character, the power of the film's final scene... but that's for you to figure out when you watch it, and on your 2nd, 3rd or 4th watch (I've seen this movie half a dozen times myself, and I can't wait to see it again).
The comedy is very quirky, and not everyone will get it. But if you do, you'll be howling in the aisles. It's somewhat surreal, and most of the humor stems from the idea that Kitano's character is so preposterous, and his actions so unrealistic, that you can't help but say WTF. It's even funnier if you realize that Japanese society is quite conservative, and the situations depicted in the movie would be downright scandalous. In that respect it could almost be classed as a surrealist comedy, alongside "Airplane!" and the "Naked Gun" movies. This may be a stretch, but I'd also compare it to the mockumentary masterpiece "This is Spinal Tap", or some of the other great Christopher Guest films.
One last thing I have to mention: The musical score is AMAZING. I've never heard an original score fit a film so perfectly as this. Composed by the great Joe Hisaishi, master of a thousand styles, the music for "Kikujiro" is simple, childlike and majestic at the same time. It's even more uplifting than the "Amelie" soundtrack.
The music, the photography, the gags and the story make this one of my favorite films of all time... definitely one I keep coming back to whenever I need a boost.
His style is very photographic, meaning each shot is composed carefully like something you'd see on the wall of an art gallery. As such, he doesn't rely too heavily on motion or dialogue, and the effect can be both powerful and hilarious. If "a picture is worth a 1000 words", Takeshi Kitano milks every last syllable.
"Kikujiro" is a beautifully wicked road movie about a cute little kid looking for his momma. What gives it an edge is the fact that the kid gets paired up with the most unlikely "guardian" the world has ever known. Takeshi Kitano plays the guardian: a loud-mouthed, selfish, good-for-nothing troublemaker who decides to exploit the kid for all he's worth. You learn quickly that this is NOT a cutesy Disney flick. Instead, it's an edgy, slightly dark, yet thoroughly charming story about innocence in a not-so-innocent world. I could go on for ages about the clever symbolism and poetic themes, the complexity of Takeshi Kitano's character, the power of the film's final scene... but that's for you to figure out when you watch it, and on your 2nd, 3rd or 4th watch (I've seen this movie half a dozen times myself, and I can't wait to see it again).
The comedy is very quirky, and not everyone will get it. But if you do, you'll be howling in the aisles. It's somewhat surreal, and most of the humor stems from the idea that Kitano's character is so preposterous, and his actions so unrealistic, that you can't help but say WTF. It's even funnier if you realize that Japanese society is quite conservative, and the situations depicted in the movie would be downright scandalous. In that respect it could almost be classed as a surrealist comedy, alongside "Airplane!" and the "Naked Gun" movies. This may be a stretch, but I'd also compare it to the mockumentary masterpiece "This is Spinal Tap", or some of the other great Christopher Guest films.
One last thing I have to mention: The musical score is AMAZING. I've never heard an original score fit a film so perfectly as this. Composed by the great Joe Hisaishi, master of a thousand styles, the music for "Kikujiro" is simple, childlike and majestic at the same time. It's even more uplifting than the "Amelie" soundtrack.
The music, the photography, the gags and the story make this one of my favorite films of all time... definitely one I keep coming back to whenever I need a boost.