Fairy tales into reality

Garry 2022-03-21 09:02:51

To be honest, I don't see much of Kitano Takeshi's work. The first one I watched was "The Doll" with experimental colors. Cruelty with distinct beauty. The second is the autobiographical "Bad Boy's Sky". A life and youth that is convinced by reality. The third is "That Summer, the Tranquil Sea". Silent dreams and joy. Then there are two "Battle Royale" produced by him. In my light and shadow experience, Hou Hsiao-hsien is simple; Iwai is pure beauty; Wong Kar-wai is tangled; Kieslowski is sublime; Angelopoulos is philosophical; Soderbergh is esoteric ...but what about Takeshi Kitano? It's hard to define what kind of director he is. This is Kitano Takeshi's strength (many people say he is violent, I don't think so). I change my mind at any time and shoot various types of films. It is with such an exploration mentality that every time I look at his works, there is a kind of expectation and surprise in it. Constantly guessing, constantly surprising. He does not stick to any form and plot.

"Summer of Kikujiro" is the most recent one. A weekend night alone. High-rise on the 16th floor. Empty living room. The starry night in the city was brilliant, and I was overjoyed in Kitano's images, unable to get out of my body, and was completely overwhelmed by his humor, his unconventional humor—never nonsense, nor vulgar coincidences. The soundtrack by Joe Hisaishi makes you reluctant to recover for a long time after you finish laughing. Because once he recovers, he will surely fall into an inexplicable greater loneliness. Movies are not life, Wim Wenders said. Takeshi Kitano gave the same response. A movie is a movie, and it will always give you a feeling that life can't give you—including the work of Hou Hsiao-hsien, who tried to recreate real life in long takes, and Jia Zhangke, a follower of the style.

Originally thought it was another warm film like "That Summer, Tranquil Sea". But as the plot unfolded, I was completely wrong again. You have to succumb to his rich imagination and "dedicate yourself to the end, and then you will die". In a simple story with a realistic theme, Takeshi Kitano has created a fairy tale world that is both fantasy and real. In and out, come and go freely, without the slightest trace. So, when I watch it, I think of Edward Scissorhands and Alice in Wonderland. But, in the end, the Hollywood factory-style films made by those seniors were completely under Kitano Takeshi. In an interview in the afternoon, when Ye Jintian talked about the gap between Chinese costume films and foreign costume films, he said something that impressed me deeply: only dishes without plates, there will be no good dishes. Takeshi Kitano's dishes are always served on the best plates, so we look so beautiful, smell the aroma, taste delicious, and we want to try it again. There is no doubt that we have to admit that Japanese movies have much to learn from us. And it's not something one or two directors can change with one or two good films (and complaining and complaining again).

The story tells that when the summer vacation came, a gangster (played by Kitano Takeshi), at the behest of his wife, took the little boy Masao (played by Yusuke Sekiguchi) to the beach to find his mother far away. A story of twists and turns (close to bizarre) on the way to and from. Did you laugh, I laughed. Are you moved? I'm moved. Or rather, I had to laugh, I had to be moved. Takeshi Kitano has such control. He directs the film, but he has already planned to direct the audience at the same time. Can't say whether it's good or bad. But works of art, too objective and neutral, are not a good thing. So, I am willing to be held by the nose and cry and pull the face and smile.

The end of the film. The little boy asked Kitano Takeshi from a distance: What's your name. A: Oh, Kikujiro!

I am speechless.


http://www.mtime.com/my/fall1114/blog/178177/

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Extended Reading
  • Wilfred 2022-03-25 09:01:16

    Compared to Hisaishi's music, the film pales in comparison. The movie is like a combination of "Central Station" + "Perfect World". The difference is that "Chrysanthemum" is presented in a small and fresh comedy tone and a chapter-style narrative. The protagonist's cute rogue character gives the film optimistic and positive emotional control from beginning to end, even if the child meets the mother. The post-themes can still quickly return to the positive side; the downside is that some humorous elements are imposed and seem natural but untrue.

  • Benjamin 2022-03-26 09:01:11

    Hisaishi's soundtrack adds 10,000 points! Kitano Takeshi's film, which is highly inconsistent with his personal style, is a modern fairy tale that is too distorted, but I personally like this set. There is a trace of pity in the sorrow, a ray of warm sun in the cold winter, the reality is very hard, life is difficult, but it is not necessarily all suffering, no one can say how many "Kiujiro" will meet in the journey of life, Maybe tomorrow, maybe every summer, please always keep your expectations and positive aspirations, and never say goodbye. PS: Kitano Takeshi may be an excellent director, but he is also a crappy actor, just a personal opinion~

Kikujiro quotes

  • [after trying out several unkind methods to get a ride with someone, Masao and Kikujiro finally succeeds]

    Masao: You see? Asking politely is easier.

    Kikujiro: [chuckles] Shut up, smart-ass.

  • Kikujiro: [to the teenagers who have stolen Masao's lunch money] Hand over more money or I'll kill you guys!

    Kikujiro's Wife: Quit playing gangster!