Kikujiro – Kikujiro no natsu (1999)

Directed by: Takeshi Kitano | 122 minutes | drama, comedy | Actors: Takeshi Kitano, Yusuke Sekiguchi, Kayoko Kishimoto, The Great Gidayû, Rakkyo Ide, Akaji Maro, Yûko Daike, Fumie Hosokawa, Nezumi Imamura

Takeshi Kitano, better known in Japan by his stage name Beat Takeshi, rose to fame as a director for his violent yakuza films, such as ‘Violent Cop’ (1989) and ‘Sonatine’ (1993). These are tight and minimalist crime films, characterized by unexpected outbursts of violence and a large dose of black humour. ‘Kikujiro’, a warm road film for the whole family, is not the type of film you would expect from Kitano in this respect. But looks are deceiving.

Eight-year-old Masao (Yusuke Sekiguchi) takes center stage in ‘Kikujiro’. Masao lives with his grandmother, who raises him alone in Tokyo. Summer vacation has just started and all his school friends are away for family trips. Masao stays at home with his grandmother, but since she goes to work early every morning, he is often alone. By chance, he learns the address of his mother, who lives somewhere in a distant city, and decides to visit her on his own. Then he meets the lazy and opportunistic Kikujiro (Kitano), who hopes to make a profit from the unsuspecting Masao. On the adventurous journey through Japan, a friendship gradually develops between the special couple.

‘Kikujiro’ is one of the most personal and characteristic Takeshi Kitano films. There are no shootings and no yakuza practices, but his signature style shines through in every scene. Looking at Kitano’s background, it’s clear where the director got his inspiration from. Kitano started his career as a stand-up comedian and later founded the comedy duo The Two Beats. The comic double act, also called Manzai in Japan, is at the forefront of a large part of Kitanos’ oeuvre. This is most evident in ‘Kikujiro’, through the interplay between Sekiguchi and Kitano.

The main reason why ‘Kikujiro’ works so well is due to the chemistry between the main characters. The slowly growing bond between Masao and Kikujiro is both comical and touching. Kitano takes plenty of time for this and never goes too far with character development. Everything happens gradually, with nuance and respect. In a lesser film, there would come a point where the characters would speak about their feelings, for example a scene where Kikujiro indicates that he always wanted a son like Masao. Kitano completely avoids this kind of cheap sentimentality. ‘Kikujiro’ is sweet and moving, but never misleading.

Another reason for the film’s success lies in the beautiful music of Joe Hisaishi. The composer, best known for his work with Hayao Miyazaki, delivers one of his finest soundtracks here. The soundtrack guides the characters from start to finish and acts as the soul of the film. Hisaishis’ music has a warm and nostalgic undertone, which transports the viewer to a distant world, which at the same time feels close. Countless feelings are hidden behind the music, from happy to sad, which is beautifully reflected in the film itself. One can argue that certain pieces of music are reused a little too often, but when it comes to a talented composer like Hisaishi, it’s hard to be really negative about that.

‘Kikujiro’ is a pleasant road film, which constantly swings back and forth between comedy and tragedy, but never loses its comfortable atmosphere. In Takeshi Kitano’s filmography, the film has been somewhat underexposed, as audiences associate its name most with crime and bloodshed. However, with his big heart and colorful characters, ‘Kikujiro’ proves that this is very unjust. ‘Kikujiro’ is a gem.