Release Date : September, 20th, 2008
Screen Time : 119 min.
Genre : Drama, Fiction

Color : Color
Screening Format : 35mm
Screen Size : American Vista (1:1.85)
Sound System : Optical
Sound Processing : Dolby Digital

[ Directed by ] KITANO Takeshi

[ Produced by ] MORI Masayuki, YOSHIDA Takio

[ Cast ]

• BEAT Takeshi KURAMOCHI Machisu
• HIGUCHI Kanako Sachiko
• YANAGI Yurei KURAMOCHI Machisu
• ASO Kumiko Sachiko

[ Staff ]

• KITANO Takeshi Screenplay
• KITANO Takeshi Editor
• YANAGIJIMA Katsumi Cinematography
• TAKAYA Hitoshi Lighting Design
• ISODA Norihiro Production Design
• HORIUCHI Senji Sound Design

[ Production Company ]

BANDAI VISUAL, TV ASAHI, Tokyo Theatres, WOWOW, OFFICE KITANO

[ Distributor ]

TOKYO THEATRES, OFFICE KITANO

[ Story ]

Directed by Kitano Takeshi, who won the Golden Lion at the Venice International Film Festival for his HANA-BI. Kitano also performs extensively as a celebrity and actor. For this movie Kitano wrote the script, directed, edited and, painted all the pictures appeared in the film, as well as playing the role of Machisu in his middle age. The film was selected by Italian film critiques for the Bastone Bianco Award 2008 (Filmcritica) at the Venice International Film Festival. It was also shown in the special screenings at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival where Kitano was awarded an honorary Golden Alexander Award.
Machisu, a boy who loves to paint, has a privileged life until it is all turned upside down by the bankruptcy of his father's company, followed by his parents' suicides. However, throughout an impoverished life of hard struggle, his dream to become a painter remains unchanged. When he marries a woman who understands him well, he devotes himself even more to his work, but still remains unrecognized. His creative work becomes more of a collaborative work over time with his wife, which escalates in pursuit of art. The two are criticized by those around them and are forced to make sacrifices, but they do not give up their dream and hopes.

[ Official Site ]

http://www.office-kitano.co.jp/akiresu/