Kikujiro
Kikujiro | |
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Release dates |
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Running time | 121 minutes |
Country | Japan |
Language | Japanese |
Box office | $200,920 (United States)[1] |
Kikujiro (Kikujirō no Natsu (菊次郎の夏, literally "Kikujirō's Summer")) is a 1999 Japanese
Kikujiro tells the story of a young boy searching for his mother during his summer vacation. The film is mostly divided into smaller chapters, listed as entries in the boy's summer vacation diary. Kitano's inspiration for the character (not the film) was his own father, Kikujiro Kitano, a
Similar to his earlier works
Plot
Masao, who lives alone with his grandmother in an old
At the start of their journey, Kikujiro is not serious about reaching Toyohashi. He gets absorbed in track cycling races and gambles away their winnings. Later, left outside a yakitori restaurant, Masao encounters a molester. After a narrow escape, Kikujiro promises to keep to the journey and take Masao to his mother. When the
Masao is so disappointed that Kikujiro cannot help but try to brighten up their return trip to Tokyo. He tells him an angel will come at the sound of the bell.
They visit a summer
Back on the road, they meet the poet and the two bikers again. They decide to camp a few days together. Masao enjoys playing some traditional games with them.
Kikujiro is reminded of his own mother (it is implied that she, like Masao's mother, also left him as a child). Kikujiro gets one of the bikers to take him from their camp to his mother's
The men continue to do their best to entertain Masao by larking about for a few more days. Before they are to return to
Before Masao and Kikujiro part, Kikujiro says, "Let's do it again sometime," and Masao thanks him. Kikujiro tells Masao to take care of his grandmother. Masao asks Kikujiro's name and Kikujiro answers, "Kikujiro! Now scram!" Masao passes a small bridge with the angel bell ringing, mirroring the first shot of Masao at the start of the film.
Themes
The film explores alienation and inclusion in Japanese society. The main characters, and those who help them along the way, are all considered outcasts from accepted social norms, not being part of a traditional family or group structure. Characters who maintain a more accepted lifestyle are frequently at odds with the protagonists.
Early in the film, the protagonists react to their alienation with anger (Kikujiro) and sadness (Masao). Along their journey, they start to discover how alike they are and the events in Toyohashi act as a turning point from which the characters begin to find comfort in their shared isolation.
Cast
- Beat Takeshi as Kikujiro Takeda
- Kayoko Kishimoto as Kikujiro's Wife
- Yusuke Sekiguchi as Masao Sugiyama
- Yūko Daike as Satoko Sugiyama
- Kazuko Yoshiyuki as Masao's Grandmother
- Beat Kiyoshi as Man at the bus stop
- Great Gidayu as Biker
- Rakkyo Ide as Biker's Friend
- Nezumi Imamura as Travelling Man
- Fumie Hosokawa as Juggler
- Akaji Maro as Scary Man
- Daigaku Sekine as Yakuza Boss
Soundtrack
Kikujiro's Summer | |
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Polydor POCH 1788 | |
Producer | Joe Hisaishi |
The album includes "Summer", one of the most famous compositions by Hisaishi; it was also re-arranged and used for Toyota Corolla commercials, for instance. These recordings can be found in his album Curved Music II.
- "Summer" − 6:26
- "Going Out" − 1:17
- "Mad Summer" − 2:55
- "Night Mare" − 1:49
- "Kindness" − 1:57
- "The Rain" − 5:38
- "Real Eyes" − 3:16
- "Angel Bell" − 3:12
- "Two Hearts" − 2:01
- "Mother" − 2:13
- "River Side" − 6:13
- "Summer Road" − 3:08
Credits
- Cello (solo) – Yumiko Morooka
- Composed by – Joe Hisaishi
- Executive producer – Emmanuel Chamboredon, Russell Ziecker
- Violin (solo) – Rieko Suzuki
Reception
The film received mixed reviews. Kikujiro has a 61% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 51 reviews, with an average rating of 5.91/10[4] Metacritic assigned the film a weighted average score of 44 out of 100, based on 25 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[5]
Documentary
Film director
References
- ^ "Kikujiro". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
- ^ "Festival de Cannes: Kikujiro". festival-cannes.com. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
- ^ "What I Did Last Summer: Close-Up on Takeshi Kitano's "Kikujiro"". MUBI. Retrieved 2021-08-24.
- ^ "Kikujiro". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
- CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
- ^ Mes, Tom (2001-03-20). "Midnight Eye interview: Makoto Shinozaki". Midnight Eye. Retrieved 2021-03-10.