Writer, actor, director, comedian Takeshi Kitano is probably the most famous man on Japanese TV but burst upon the cinema world at the beginning of the 90s when he utilised all those skills to create the violent yakuza trilogy comprising, Violent Cop, Boiling Point and Sonatine. His bravura direction brought something new to the screen and his laconic acting with off beat humour brought him great success. In 1997 he brought us the quieter and more reflective Hanna-Bi and the year before that, this film, made whist he recovered from a motor scooter accident. More low key than any of the aforementioned films this a fairly leisurely affair, lacking much of his trademark cutting and editing. The two school chums the film revolves around have met up in later years and we see their reminisces of their attempts at developing from school wastrels to possibly something more worthwhile. The boxing scenes, which are far more extensive than I had imagined are superbly brought to the screen and are probably the films finest element. The more influential of the pair moves into the world of yakuza and unless there is something lost in translation, it would seem these are presented almost as pantomime by a disillusioned Kitano whose very first screen acting job in 1969 wasps a gang member in the revolutionary director, Kaji Wakamatsu's. highly controversial Go, Go Second Time Virgin.
Review of Kids Return
