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| Takeshi Kitano |
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| Born: 1948 |
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 Read the short profile |
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A series of fortunate coincidences paved the way for Takeshi Kitano’s
rise to supreme cult status. Expelled from school, he studied the art of
nightclub entertainment. When his mentor Senzaburo Fukami (the
father of Japanese stand-up comedy) suddenly became ill, the young
Kitano took to the stage and became an instant hit. Shortly afterwards,
he formed the comic duo ‘The Two Beat’ (think of a Japanese Newman and
Baddiel), earning him his lifelong nickname of ‘Beat’ Takeshi. He then
graduated onto acting - but when the director of his first film fell ill,
an ambitious Kitano took over at the helm and the rest, as they say, is
history.
Tokyo born and bred, Kitano is the Scorsese of modern Japanese cinema; an impartial chronicler of organised crime, with which he has experienced a continual if peripheral relationship. (He is famous for turning down substantial cash offers from Yakuza bosses eager to retain his services). More philosophical than thrill-seeking, his style alternates between zen-like tranquility and skull-shattering violence. Towering above his cinematic peers, his skill is to easternise what is essentially a western genre, and invest the humble gangster flick with transcendent beauty.
David Goff |
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| Where next? | ||
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Fritz Lang | 1890 |
| Info on: 22 films (director), 1 film (star) | ||
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Martin Scorsese | 1942 |
| Info on: 7 films (director), 1 film (star) | ||
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Miike Takashi | 1960 |
| Info on: 2 films (director), 1 interview | ||
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| Directed by Takeshi Kitano | ||
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Sonatine |
| 1993 | ||
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Hana-bi |
| 1997 | ||
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Brother |
| 2000 | ||
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| Starring Takeshi Kitano | ||
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Sonatine | 1993 |
| Directed by Takeshi Kitano | ||
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Hana-bi | 1997 |
| Directed by Takeshi Kitano | ||
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Brother | 2000 |
| Directed by Takeshi Kitano | ||
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| External links | ||
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Want to buy Takeshi Kitano stuff? |
| Search www.blackstar.co.uk | ||
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