If you have not seen any Takeshi Kitano (Kikujiro no Natsu, Achilles

Review: Hana-BI (Personal Favorites # 90) | Twitch download seventen
If you have not seen any Takeshi Kitano (Kikujiro no Natsu, Achilles

to Kame, Kantoku: download seventen Banzai) movies yet, Hana-bi probably one of the best starting points in the man's work. It is one of his more accessible films, but it still goes a long way to highlight their skills. While still very unique and different from Western cinema, there are enough elements to draw in people not really familiar with Asian filmmaking. Back in 1997 Hana-bi Kitano earned a Golden Lion (Venice International Film Festival). Although download seventen he needed the help of Shinya Tsukamoto to convince the jury of Hana-bi qualities, download seventen the film becoming Kitano major breakthrough in the West. A breakthrough was already imminent when he released Sonatine a few years earlier, but apparently an internationally respected award goes a long way when it comes to Western interests. Hana-bi is at the source of the renaissance of Japanese filmmaking experienced around the turn of the millennium, and thus it is definitely one of the most important Japanese films in the last 20 years or so. Just win a celebrated festival fare is not quite enough but the '97 Cannes winners illustrate Unagi (who remembers that movie these days?). You need a film that also differs from the others. Hana-bi does just that, which is the perfect blend of Kitano download seventen brand elements. Snappy and and short bursts of violence are interspersed with an odd sense of humor and more poetic / dramatic moments. Kitano plays constantly around with these different elements to create a film with a very unique download seventen feel, which can switch tones in an instant, while the overall atmosphere more or less consistent. Kitano plays Nishi, an unjustified police download seventen suddenly confronted with several deaths around download seventen him. Not only his he just loses his daughter, but his partner was killed in battle, lost a close colleague, both legs, and his wife was diagnosed as terminal. Nishi decides it's time to take a break and step a bank robbery to allow him and his wife to do a little traveling, away from all the everyday worries. Of course, things do not go as planned and soon Nishi is chased by a gang of Yakuza and a small group of former colleagues. You are excused if sometimes you feel you are watching a 80 girl. It seems that at the time, Japan was a little behind on fashion, giving the film an older feel to its production date suggests. On a technical download seventen level, it is Kitano's editing style that requires the most attention. Kitano unique download seventen timing gives the film some very interesting pictures, but it's the things Kitano does not show to do for the best surprises. More than once he leaves the crux of the stage, just shows the events leading up to an event and immediately cut to the aftermath. It's cause and effect, but the event itself in between. Hana-bi was made by Joe Hisaishi download seventen and while not his best collaboration with Kitano (Hisaishi made more memorable tracks for dolls, download seventen children's Return and Kikujiro), it still contains some fairly large pieces of music. download seventen If anything, it gives the film a fairly relaxed atmosphere that serves as an ideal constant, binds different tones of Hana-bi together. When Kitano takes up starring you know you do not have to worry about the performances. Kitano plays (a fraction of) himself and once knows that charm in a role that is not necessarily sympathetic. Nishi can be rude, violent and annoying, he still me smile every time he does something odd or unusual. The secondary cast is stellar as well, with Susuma Terajima download seventen and Ren Osugi takes up most of the screen time. Kayoko Kishimoto download seventen is also available as Nishi's wife, the beginning of a long and successful collaboration between Kishimoto and Kitano. Kitano takes center in Hana-bi. Not just in front of the camera, but with almost all aspects of the film. As an actor, he is irreplaceable, as editor, he gives Hana-bi a unique rhythm, as a comedian, he inserts some genuinely funny jokes and as a director he keeps a perfect balance between the different tones available. And if that was not enough, Kitano litters the film with his own paintings. They may not be the sprawling example of technical mastership, but they are truly unique and entertaining. Hana-bi is a real delight. It's a simple, accessible film but with enough unique elements to keep you amazed and interested. The film is also the perfect showcase download seventen for Kitano versatility. It's download seventen funny, poetic, violent, and leaves you with a perfect dramatic impact download seventen in the gut. If you are new to Asian cinema, Hana-bi is definitely a good starting point. If, on the other hand, you are a seasoned fan already,

I can not picture you have not seen this movie yet. If not, be sure to make it a priority.
Leading Voices in Global Cinema Todd Brown, founder and editor of Toronto Peter Martin, editorial director download seventen Dallas Ryland