Most endearing film with Takeshi Kitano himself staring with Yusuke Sekeguchi, a youngster playing a nine year old, living with his grandmother, who having nothing better to do one summer break from school decides to go search for his mother (and maybe a father too). The slightly odd character that Kitano plays accompanies the child but at times this seems more like two kids on the road. We get glimpses of near deserted countryside and seaside along the way and interaction with various parties along the way. This being a Kitano film, nothing is ever straightforward but potentially disastrous episodes usually turn into something more akin to games and when there is the coming together of two bikers, met along the way, and a return of the hippie in a camper van things get much more like a children's playground than an adult search for a deserting parent. Nobody makes films quite like Kitano and none of his films are quite like the other. Impressive and dare I say, 'heartwarming'!
Review of Kikujiro
