Takeshis' (2005)

Director:

Takeshi Kitano

Writer:

Takeshi Kitano (written by)

Release Date:

5 November 2005 (Japan)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

500% Kitano - nothing to add!

Plot:

Beat Takeshi, a prominent actor, meets a lookalike named Kitano, who is a struggling actor, but after the meeting, Kitano's dreams take a violent, surreal turn.

Plot Keywords:

Actor | Directed By Star | Surrealism | Blood | Woman Shot

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Takeshi Kitano	...	Beat Takeshi / Mr. Kitano (as Beat Takeshi)
Kotomi Kyôno	...	Takeshi's Girl Friend / Kitano's Female Neighbor
Kayoko Kishimoto	...	Mahjong Parlor Woman / Audition Producer / Customer
Ren Ôsugi	...	Takeshi's Manager / Taxi Driver
Susumu Terajima	...	Takeshi's Friend / Kitano's Yakuza Neighbor
Tetsu Watanabe	...	TV Wardrobe Master / Noodle Cook / Audition Actor
Akihiro Miwa	...	Himself
Naomasa Musaka
Kôichi Ueda
Tsutomu Takeshige
Beat Kiyoshi
Junya Takaki	...	Himself
Shôgo Kimura
Kanji Tsuda
Makoto Ashikawa

Also Known As:

Fractal (Japan) (working title)

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:18A | Singapore:M18 | Australia:MA (2007) | Hong Kong:IIB | Japan:R-18 | South Korea:18

Filming Locations:

Tokyo, Japan

Company:

Bandai Visual Company

Trivia:

The audience at the 2006 Venice Film Festival was very confused and frustrated about the film. But Kitano had warned the audience ahead, asking them not to attempt to analyze the film, but instead, just to let go and feel the film, and in the press conference afterwards, Kitano said that he wanted audiences to come out of this film not knowing what to say or what to think.

Quotes:

[after first meeting Kitano without the clown makeup]
Beat Takeshi: He does looks like me.

Movie Connections:

References "Shakugan no Shana" (2005)

Fascinating and Puzzling

I don't think it's even possible to understand this movie if you aren't Japanese. And I'm not even sure most Japanese fans will really understand it. I can see elements of other Beat Takeshi films from Battle Royale to Zatoichi. And I'm sure that there are tons of references that I just don't recognize. But that's perfectly okay.

If you think of this film as music for your eyes and don't worry about understanding it, it's very enjoyable. You could also say that it's meant to be looked at instead of 'watched', like a moving painting. It isn't necessary to understand every tiny piece to enjoy the whole. But don't let that scare you away. This isn't artsy fartsy crap. There are boobs and guns and yakuzas to keep it interesting.

Of course I'm sure that many who consider themselves knowledgeable about Japanese cinema and Beat Takeshi in particular will think I'm talking out of my butt and will try to analyze and explain every little piece. And that's okay too, as long as they take time to actually enjoy the film.