Japanese giant Takeshi Kitano, who has been making gangster films for half his life, has a soul-stirring "Sonata"

(Text: Catching the Wind and Capturing Films)

Takeshi Kitano is called the "New Emperor of Japanese Film" by many filmmakers (the Emperor of Japanese Film is the late master Akira Kurosawa), and also He is a standard-bearer among Japanese film directors with a distinctive style. He has been given the most epithet "violent aesthetics". Unlike John Woo's chivalrous romance and dramatic violence, Takeshi Kitano's violence is extremely realistic. Extremely violent and emotionless

Movie: "Sonata"

"Sonata" is director Takeshi Kitano's first gangster film, although he had previously filmed "Sonata". "The Violent Man" and "3-4X10 Months" are two "gang-related movies", but they are still not orthodox enough, and Kitano Takeshi's personal label is not particularly prominent. It is only after the film "Sonata" that Kitano Takeshi's gangster movies are complete. It is completely different from other directors' gangster films and has formed a fixed and clear-cut screen aesthetic.

When I watched "Sonata" for the first time, I was struck by the sudden calm violence and extraordinary lens language. Shocking to the point of shock. There are no bullets flying and bloody rivers in traditional gangster movies, and there is no strong dramatic conflict. Although the movie is about a vendetta, all the characters in it are in a state of doing nothing at all times, with long still shots and a daze. , blue sky, occasionally telling a few cold jokes, and playing seemingly absurd and uninhibited games. Kitano's way of telling stories is so special

But in the casual narrative rhythm of "Sonata". , and everything is full of personal interest and warmth. In the film, Kitano Takeshi and his friends who are close to each other in life and death have little communication with each other. Every body movement and look in each other's eyes tell them what they should do next and how to do it. , to some extent, this is quite similar to Johnnie To's "Gunfire" and "Exile", except that To's film is more poetic and Takeshi Kitano is more simple.

There is a scene of Takeshi Kitano in the film. The scene where the brothers fled to the seaside was very interesting. When they were bored at the seaside, in order to pass the time, before the war, several men played a "childish and ridiculous" game. When they themselves were grinning stupidly, about men There is no doubt that the brotherhood between him and the man has been evident for many years. Kitano's brilliance lies in saying nothing, doing nothing, and not using any movie techniques to exaggerate this friendship. Even the last friends are There is no exaggerated dramatic treatment, and the subtle expression of emotions and precise capture of details bring more impact and shock. This shows that Takeshi Kitano is extremely talented as a director. Full of craftsmanship.

Regarding the love scenes in the film, the director's approach is even more obscure, with almost no trace left.

A-Xing said: I like to be with strong people. Together, Kitano said: If I were strong, I wouldn't carry a gun. Akira said: But you would shoot without hesitation. Akira said: But you are not afraid. Die. Kitano looked at the seaside and responded to her: If I wasn't afraid, I would die.

Akiko is a young girl who was rescued by Kitano, and she relies on her from the bottom of her heart, such as the above dialogue. It appears several times in the film, all of which are short. Kitano Takeshi’s words inadvertently and the look in her eyes are very touching. As a middle-aged man, how could he not long for a stable and peaceful life, but when his brothers After they died one after another, he could not resolve the sadness in his heart, nor could he give himself a future that he could look forward to. He picked up a gun and pointed it at his temple, leaving behind Aixing who was still waiting for him in the hut.

De-dramatizing, the suppressed climax is treated like "plain water", which makes people more uneasy when watching it, because it does not have the logical direction of the normal story. I don't know when Kitano Takeshi will take out his pistol and suddenly Just blow your head off or blow your own head off, and you can't speculate on the fate of any character in the film, who will die, and who will have a good ending.

The film "Sonata" was selected into the top ten films of France's famous "Cahiers du Cinema" that year. It was also director Takeshi Kitano's first stylized work on the international stage, and also laid the foundation for his subsequent directing of a series of gangster films. The overall narrative tone and aesthetic style of the film. Although in the minds of many fans, "Hanabi" is his most mature and peak gangster film, "Sonata" is more groundbreaking for Takeshi Kitano, and its significance is self-evident.

For fans who like Takeshi Kitano's movie style, the film "Takeshi Kitano" released in 2005 is also not to be missed. There is a more realistic and three-dimensional version of the new emperor of Japanese movies "Takeshi Kitano".