Underskog

This 1997 Japanese film was written, directed and edited by, as well as starring Japanese filmmaker Takeshi Kitano. The film’s score was composed by renowned Japanese composer, Joe Hisaishi. This was their fourth collaboration. Hana-bi (花火,) is the Japanese word for “fireworks”.

Like most of Kitano’s films, Hana-bi looks washed-out; it looks dreamy, and yet the violence is stark and abrupt. People are shot in the head and stabbed in the face. Blood is shed in liberal quantities. All this is contrasted by deep melancholy and tenderness, two qualities found similarly in Kitano’s earlier effort, Sonatine. The unexpected international success of Hana-bi, coupled with Sonatine’s critical acclaim, established Kitano as the foremost Japanese filmmaker of his time.

Free entrance & popcorn.