| Kikujiro |
|
| Directed by |
Takeshi Kitano |
| Produced by |
Shinji Komiya
Masayuki Mori
Takio Yoshida |
| Written by |
Takeshi Kitano |
| Distributed by |
Sony Pictures Classics (US) |
| Release date(s) |
5 June 1999 (Japan) |
| Running time |
121 min |
| Language |
Japanese |
| IMDb profile |
Japanese poster for the film.
Kikujiro is the official international title for Kikujirō no Natsu (菊次郎の夏, Kikujirō no Natsu?, literally "Kikujiro's Summer"), a 1999 film starring, written, and directed by Japanese filmmaker Takeshi Kitano.
Its score was composed by Joe Hisaishi.
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.
The film is regarded as Kitano's funniest, and perhaps most overlooked work. Watchable for the whole family, the film was allegedly inspired by the The Wizard of Oz with the basic premise being a road trip. Kitano's familiar elements and locales are present: drawings, vignettes, seasides, temples and angels. However, the gangster themes for which Kitano is widely known are not present, proving to the audience that he is very well capable of other genres; particularly, his early roots in comedy surface clearly in the film. Although the plot is composed largely of sad events, the film presents a comedic atmosphere, mostly through Kitano's character and his somewhat bizarre encounters.
Plot
Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.
As the summer vacation arrives, a boy named Masao (正男) living alone with his grandmother receives a package from his long-lost mother. Together with a bad mannered, down-on-his-luck man named Kikujiro (菊次郎 Kikujirō [1], played by Kitano), he sets out on a journey to find her. After Kikujiro gambles away all the money, the duo must improvise their transport across the country. Along the way they meet a small but colourful cast of characters.
Cast
- Kikujiro Kitano - Takeshi Kitano
- Kikujiro's Wife - Kayoko Kishimoto
- Masao - Yusuke Sekiguchi
- Masao's Mother - Yuko Daike
- Masao's Grandmother - Kazuko Yoshiyuiki
- Man at the bus stop - Beat Kiyoshi
- Biker - Rakkyo Ide
- Travelling Man - Nezumi Mamura
- Juggler Girl - Fumle Hosokawa
- Scary Man - Akaji Maro
- Yakuza Boss - Daigaku Sekine
